Association between thyroid disorders and COVID-19: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus, has spread globally since its emergence in December 2019.
• Common comorbidities in COVID-19 patients include diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases.
• The impact of pre-existing thyroid disorders on COVID-19 susceptibility and severity remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize existing evidence on the association between thyroid disorders and COVID-19.
• To determine if individuals with thyroid disease have an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.
• To explore the relationship between various thyroid conditions (hypothyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, thyroid cancer) and COVID-19 outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive electronic search of multiple databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest) for studies published since October 2019.
• Inclusion of clinical trials and observational studies, with rigorous screening and de-duplication processes.
• Standardized data extraction, risk of bias assessment by two independent reviewers, and meta-analysis or descriptive analysis of pooled results.

Main Results:

• This section is to be populated upon study completion.

Conclusions:

• The study aims to provide robust evidence on the link between thyroid disorders and COVID-19.
• Findings will elucidate the risk of COVID-19 infection and outcomes in patients with conditions like hypothyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, and thyroid cancer.
• Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.