Observational studyThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism2021
Normal Adrenal and Thyroid Function in Patients Who Survive COVID-19 Infection.
Observational study in The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 45 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
45 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 73 citations in OpenAlex.
- Thyroid disorders and COVID-19: a comprehensive review of literature.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2025Pooled it
- Thyroxine changes in COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2023Pooled it
- The Association Between COVID-19 and Thyroxine Levels: A Meta-Analysis.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2021Pooled it
- Post-COVID-19 condition in prospective inpatient and outpatient cohorts.Scientific reports · 2025Observational
- Article
- Review
- Reversible central adrenal insufficiency in survivors of COVID-19: results from a 24-month longitudinal study.Endocrine connections · 2024Article
- Thyroid Function in the Time of COVID-19: A Systematic Review of Disease Progression and Vaccination Effect.International journal of endocrinology and metabolism · 2024Article
- Thyroid dysfunction in COVID-19.Nature reviews. Endocrinology · 2024Review
- Subacute thyroiditis after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: A case report.Clinical case reports · 2024Article
- A prospective study on endocrine function in patients with long-COVID symptoms.Hormones (Athens, Greece) · 2024Observational
- The Growing Understanding of the Pituitary Implication in the Pathogenesis of Long COVID-19 Syndrome: A Narrative Review.Advances in respiratory medicine · 2024Review
- Explaining Long COVID: A Pioneer Cross-Sectional Study Supporting the Endocrine Hypothesis.Journal of the Endocrine Society · 2024Article
- The existence of adrenal insufficiency in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2024Article
- THYROID FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY.Acta clinica Croatica · 2023Article
- Evaluation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis during the post-COVID-19 period in patients treated with steroids during the illness.Archives of endocrinology and metabolism · 2023Article
- SARS-CoV-2 Affects Thyroid and Adrenal Glands: AnBiomedicines · 2023Article
- Thyroid Autoimmunity and SARS-CoV-2 Infection.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Review
- COVID-19 pandemic and adrenals: deep insights and implications in patients with glucocorticoid disorders.Endocrine · 2023Review
- Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
contextThe COVID-19 pandemic continues to exert an immense burden on global health services. Moreover, up to 63% of patients experience persistent symptoms, including fatigue, after acute illness. Endocrine systems are vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19 as many glands express the ACE2 receptor, used by the SARS-CoV-2 virion for cellular access. However, the effects of COVID-19 on adrenal and thyroid gland function after acute COVID-19 remain unknown.
objectiveOur objectives were to evaluate adrenal and thyroid gland function in COVID-19 survivors.
methodsA prospective, observational study was undertaken at the Clinical Research Facility, Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, including 70 patients ≥18 years of age, at least 3 months after diagnosis of COVID-19. Participants attended a research study visit (8:00-9:30 am), during which a short Synacthen test (250 µg IV bolus) and thyroid function assessments were performed.
resultsAll patients had a peak cortisol ≥450 nmol/L after Synacthen, consistent with adequate adrenal reserve. Basal and peak serum cortisol did not differ according to disease severity or history of dexamethasone treatment during COVID-19. There was no difference in baseline or peak cortisol after Synacthen or in thyroid function tests, or thyroid status, in patients with fatigue (n = 44) compared to those without (n = 26).
conclusionAdrenal and thyroid function ≥3 months after presentation with COVID-19 was preserved. While a significant proportion of patients experienced persistent fatigue, their symptoms were not accounted for by alterations in adrenal or thyroid function. These findings have important implications for the clinical care of patients after COVID-19.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.