Comparison of characteristics between those with painful SAT and those with painless SAT
| Painless SAT (n=5) | Painful SAT (n=6) | Reference ranges | |
| Age in years | 36.40 (12.47) | 50.5 (16.97) | |
| Fever | 1 (20%) | 4 (66.67%) | |
| Palpitation | 4 (80%) | 2 (55.55%) | |
| Tremor | 3 (60%) | 2 (55.55%) | |
| Time of onset since recovery from COVID-19 infection in days | 10.6 (5.65)* | 34.83 (9.26) | |
| Severity of COVID-19 infection | Mild/asymptomatic=0 Moderate=1 Severe=3 | Mild/asymptomatic=1 Moderate=4 Severe=2 | |
| Required glucocorticoids during COVID-19 | 2 (40%) | 4 (66.67%) | |
| Total T4 in µg/dL | 23.05 (5.9) | 18.4 (2.8) | 5.44–11.73 |
| Total T3 in ng/dL | 186.33 (20.58) | 162.8 (21.6) | 78–136 |
| Free T4 in ng/dL | 2.35 (0.85) | 2.19 (0.64) | 0.61–1.72 |
| Free T3 in pg/mL | 6.6 (1.5) | 5.1 (0.6) | 2.2–4.2 |
| ESR in mm/hour | 66.6 (21.2) | 72.8 (16.6) | ≤15 for men <50 years ≤22 for women <50 years and men ≥50 years ≤29 mm for women ≥50 years |
| Anti-TPO antibody positivity | 1 (20%) | 2 (33.33%) | Positive: >35 IU/mL |
| CRP in mg/L | 212.33 (96.29)* | 69.12 (55.98) | 0–5 |
| IL-6 in pg/mL | 110.00 (47.87)* | 50.41 (13.20) | 0–7 |
| Absolute lymphocyte count | 1.59×103/μL* | 2.68×103/μL | |
| Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio | 2.8* | 1.83 | |
| Treatment required for SAT | NSAIDs=0 Glucocorticoids=0 | NSAIDs=2 Glucocorticoids=4 | |
| Outcome at 3 months | Euthyroidism=3 Subclinical hypothyroidism=2 Overt hypothyroidism=0 | Euthyroidism=4 Subclinical hypothyroidism=1 Overt hypothyroidism (started on LT4)=1 | |
| Outcome at 6 months | Euthyroidism=5 Subclinical hypothyroidism=0 Overt hypothyroidism=0 | Euthyroidism=4 Subclinical hypothyroidism=1 Overt hypothyroidism (euthyroid with LT4 replacement)=1 |
*Denotes significant difference (p<0.05).
CRP, C reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; IL-6, interleukin 6; LT4, levothyroxine; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; SAT, subacute thyroiditis; TPO, thyroid peroxidase.