Table 2.
Comparison of clinical, laboratory, and imaging features between Pre-SARS-CoV-2, Neg-SARS-CoV-2, and Pos-SARS-CoV-2 cohorts
| Pre-SARS-CoV-2 | Neg-SARS-CoV-2 | Pos-SARS-CoV-2 | Overall | Pre-SARS-CoV-2 vs Neg-SARS-CoV-2 | Pre-SARS-CoV-2 vs Pos-SARS-CoV-2 | Neg-SARS-CoV-2 vs Pos-SARS-CoV-2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N = 152 | N = 28 | N = 18 | P value | P value | P value | P value | |
| Sex | 0.11 | 0.38 | 0.12 | 0.43 | |||
| - Female (%) | 130 (86) | 19 (68) | 18 (100) | ||||
| - Male (%) | 22 (14) | 9 (32) | 0 (0) | ||||
| Mean age (SD) | 46 (±9) | 43 (±14) | 34 (±14) | 0.006 | 0.32 | <0.001 | 0.08 |
| Respiratory symptoms preceding SAT onset (%) | 30 (20) | 12 (43) | 14 (78) | <0.001 | 0.008 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Median time from respiratory symptoms to SAT (IQR) | 30 (15) | 30 (18) | 29 (12) | 0.08 | 0.86 | 0.06 | 0.33 |
| Bilateral neck pain (%) | 21 (14) | 11 (39) | 16 (89) | <0.001 | 0.0025 | <0.001 | 0.016 |
| Fever (%) | 105 (69) | 23 (82) | 17 (94) | 0.005 | 0.12 | 0.002 | 0.34 |
| FT4 (IQR) | 24.1 (3.8) | 26.9 (8.9) | 28.4 (5.6) | <0.001 | 0.001 | <0.001 | 0.29 |
| FT3 (IQR) | 5.8 (1.88) | 7.0 (2) | 8.2 (1.6) | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.13 |
| TSH (IQR) | 0.1 (0.23) | 0.02 (0.29) | 0.01 (0.19) | <0.001 | 0.11 | 0.004 | 0.25 |
| ESR (IQR) | 43.5 (29) | 71.5 (49.8) | 91 (25) | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.06 |
| CRP (IQR) | 3.6 (1.2) | 5.3 (5.3) | 8.5 (1.1) | <0.001 | 0.13 | <0.001 | 0.005 |
| Tga (IQR) | 60 (40) | 94.5 (27) | 155 (150) | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.45 |
| Thyroid volume (IQR) | 22 (6) | 23.3 (5.4) | 22 (5) | 0.37 | 0.45 | 0.58 | 0.39 |
| Treatment (%) | 0.54 | 0.61 | 0.39 | 0.53 | |||
| - Steroids | 135 (89) | 24 (86) | 16 (92) | ||||
| - NSAIDs | 12 (8) | 2 (7) | 1 (0) | ||||
| - None | 5 (3) | 2 (7) | 1 (8) | ||||
| Median duration (days) of steroid treatment (IQR) | 90 (40) | 90 (40) | 85 (13) | 0.28 | 0.43 | 0.29 | 0.54 |
| Hypothyroidism at 3 months (%) | 30 (20) | 14b (66) | 13c (87) | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.01 |
Normal ranges: FT4 6-16 nmol/L; FT3 2.3-4.2 pmol/L; TSH 0.4-4.5 mIU/L; ESR < 15 mm/h; CRP < 1.5 mg/L; Tg < 35 µg/L.
Abbreviations: CRP, C-reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; FT3, free triiodothyronine; FT4, free thyroxine; IQR, interquartile range; NA, not applicable; NAATs, nucleic acid amplification tests; NS, not significant; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; SAT, subacute thyroiditis; Tg, thyroglobulin; TSH, thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone).
aMeasured in patients with TgAbs < 9.3 IU/mL (interfering cutoff).
bEstablished in the 21 subjects with a follow-up of 3 months.
cEstablished in the 15 subjects with a follow-up of 3 months.