Meta-analysis on the effects of COVID-19 on thyroid disorders

Millions of people were affected both by COVID-19 and thyroid diseases across the world but previous works are limited to identify the effects of COVID-19 on thyroid disorders. Thyroid holds a critical role to regulate numerous metabolic processes throughout the body, a few changes in it, may have affect on other systems on the human body. During the pandemic, thyroid disorders get increased and those disorders are usually interpreted as autoimmune mechanisms. Present meta-analyses are completed with limited parameters and just focus on a particular topic which prevents to act in a holistic approach. Our study focuses on the relation between thyroid function test measures, thyroid dysfunction, comorbidity and COVID-19 severity; also thyroid function test measures and mortality caused by COVID-19; thyroid function test measures and COVID-19 existence are observed. In total, 16 meta-analyses are completed and aim to improve the evidence level of the studies related to thyroid disorders and COVID-19 which will contribute to the medical sciences. 4260 studies were reviewed from PubMed and Science Direct search engines, and after applying the exclusion criteria, 13 studies with a sample group of 2829 individuals were included in the meta-analyses. PRISMA 2020 Checklist flows were tracked, for statistical calculation by using the RevMan and MedCalc software. All in all, thyroid dysfunction patients tend to undergo more severe COVID-19. The relation between thyroid disorders and COVID-19 was expressed with meta-analyses by using many parameters, aiming to increase the reliability level of the related studies.