TABLE 3.
Comparison of the baseline clinical characteristics of patients who did and did not develop clinical deterioration
| Clinical deterioration | No clinical deterioration | p‐value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of patients | 48 | 284 | ‐‐‐ |
| TSH (mIU/L) | 0.85 (0.60–1.50) | 1.25 (0.92–1.70) | .002 |
| fT4 (pmol/L) | 17 (15–18) | 18 (16–19) | .001 |
| fT3 (pmol/L) | 3.6 (3.2–4.1) | 4.2 (3.7–4.7) | <.001 |
| fT3/fT4 ratio | 0.218 (0.194–0.243) | 0.236 (0.212–0.271) | .001 |
| Non‐thyroidal illness syndrome | 11 (22.9%) | 16 (5.6%) | <.001 |
| Age >50 years | 38 (79.2%) | 147 (51.8%) | <.001 |
| Male | 28 (58.3%) | 125 (44.0%) | .066 |
| Smoking | 4/39 (10.3%) | 45/250 (18.0%) | .231 |
| Obesity | 5 (10.4%) | 13 (4.6%) | .098 |
| Charlson comorbidity index | |||
| 0 | 29 (60.4%) | 222 (78.2%) | .001 |
| 1 | 8 (16.7%) | 39 (13.7%) | |
| 2 | 5 (10.4%) | 15 (5.3%) | |
| ≥3 | 6 (12.5%) | 8 (2.8%) | |
| Comorbidities | |||
| Hypertension | 20 (41.7%) | 61 (21.5%) | .003 |
| Diabetes | 13 (27.1%) | 38 (13.4%) | .015 |
| IHD/CHF | 5 (10.4%) | 13 (4.6%) | .098 |
| Stroke/TIA | 4 (8.3%) | 5 (1.8%) | .028 |
| Malignancy | 2 (4.2%) | 12 (4.2%) | .999 |
| Pulmonary disease | 4 (8.3%) | 7 (2.5%) | .059 |
| Symptomatology | |||
| Fever | 26 (54.2%) | 85 (29.9%) | .001 |
| Myalgia | 7 (14.6%) | 30 (10.6%) | .413 |
| Malaise | 6 (12.5%) | 42 (14.8%) | .677 |
| Rhinorrhoea | 6 (12.5%) | 39 (13.7%) | .818 |
| Cough | 27 (56.3%) | 102 (35.9%) | .008 |
| Shortness of breath | 5 (10.4%) | 16 (5.6%) | .208 |
| Sore throat | 15 (31.3%) | 76 (26.8%) | .519 |
| Headache | 3 (6.3%) | 28 (9.9%) | .594 |
| Nausea/vomiting | 4 (8.3%) | 6 (2.1%) | .042 |
| Diarrhoea | 4 (8.3%) | 42 (14.8%) | .364 |
| Anosmia and/or ageusia | 5 (10.4%) | 35 (12.3%) | .707 |
| Baseline clinical severity | .447 | ||
| Mild | 36 (75.0%) | 215 (75.7%) | |
| Moderate | 8 (16.7%) | 61 (21.5%) | |
| Severe | 4 (8.3%) | 8 (2.8%) | |
| Baseline laboratory parameters | |||
| Cycle threshold value <25 | 39 (81.3%) | 125 (44.0%) | <.001 |
| Abnormal white blood cell count | 11 (22.9%) | 62 (21.8%) | .852 |
| Abnormal neutrophil count | 7 (14.6%) | 46 (16.2%) | .778 |
| Lymphopenia | 27 (56.3%) | 100 (35.2%) | .006 |
| Thrombocytopenia | 12 (25.0%) | 53 (18.7%) | .306 |
| eGFR <60 ml/min | 6 (12.5%) | 13 (4.6%) | .029 |
| Elevated alanine aminotransferase | 7 (14.6%) | 41 (14.4%) | .979 |
| Elevated aspartate aminotransferase | 19 (39.6%) | 68 (23.9%) | .023 |
| Elevated lactate dehydrogenase | 23 (47.9%) | 103 (36.3%) | .124 |
| Elevated creatine kinase | 10 (20.8%) | 26 (9.2%) | .016 |
| Elevated troponin T | 1 (2.1%) | 0 (0%) | .145 |
| Elevated C‐reactive protein | 34 (70.8%) | 112 (39.4%) | <.001 |
| Anti‐TPO/Tg positivity | 10/48 (20.8%) | 61/271 (22.5%) | .797 |
Data presented as number (percentage).
Values reaching statistical significance are in bold.
Abbreviations: CHF, congestive heart failure; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; fT3, free triiodothyronine; fT4, free thyroxine; IHD, ischaemic heart disease; Tg, thyroglobulin; TIA, transient ischaemic attack; TPO, thyroid peroxidase; TSH, thyroid‐stimulating hormone.