Thyroid disease and coronavirus - BTF statement

[helvella]

There is now a British Thyroid Federation statement (mostly) about corona virus/covid-19.

I think we will all be able to see good and bad points in this statement.

Have been re-thinking and will now open up for replies.

It is important that BTF, should they happen to look in, see what people are asking, and commenting on their statment.

However, please keep as on-topic as you can - off-topic responses will be removed.

You might consider contacting BTF if you feel their statement/advice needs improvement. [e-mail]

Although only posted on Thursday, it had already been updated by Friday. I suggest checking the BTF site rather than assuming my post is up to date.

Thyroid disease and coronavirus

Issued 5 March 2020 (updated 6 March 2020)

Thyroid disease and coronavirus (COVID-19)

We have received enquiries about whether people with autoimmune thyroid disease are at an increased risk of coronavirus. We take a look at what is known to date.

About coronavirus

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus. The UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk to the UK from low to moderate. However, the risk to individuals of catching coronavirus remains low. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include:

• a cough

• a high temperature

• shortness of breath

However, these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness.

The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.

How does it spread?

As it's a new illness, it is not fully understood exactly how coronavirus spreads from person to person. It is thought the virus spreads via cough droplets, in common with similar viruses.

It's very unlikely it can be spread through things like packages or food. Viruses like coronavirus cannot live outside the body for very long.

What is the risk to individuals?

In the majority of cases, people infected with coronavirus will have mild symptoms. As it is a new illness, there have been no studies about how it affects people with thyroid conditions and it is too early to tell whether these people are more likely to develop severe symptoms.

However, there is no reason to believe that people with thyroid problems (autoimmune or otherwise) are at any excess risk from coronavirus. Thyroid problems are common and the analysis from China would have likely picked up if there was a big problem for thyroid patients already. In contrast they have identified that coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease (COPD).

btf-thyroid.org/thyroid-dis...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Diabetes is like thyroid disease. Thyroid disease is like diabetes. A gland fails to produce what it is supposed to. Yet this BTF statement refers to "long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease (COPD)" and implies that thyroid is NOT like diabetes, cancer and COPD.

No explanation as to why it isn't like those three.

No explanation of why the auto-immune issues of most thyroid disease are not considered as "weakened immune systems" - or, possibly looked at from the other direction, over-strong immune systems. Whichever view, they imply that this disorder of the immune system has no impact whatsoever with respect to covid-19 (or seasonal flu).

[Hillwoman in reply to helvella]

Thank you for posting this. I'm still staggered by the statement. Never had much time for the BTF and have even less now.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hillwoman]

I have emailed them but am not holding my breath. Nor even crossing my fingers.

I do encourage people to contact them with their opinions and/or questions. So long as you are not in a hurry...

[Hillwoman in reply to helvella]

Yes, I shall be firing a small rocket.

[Hillwoman in reply to Hillwoman]

Rocket launched.

[Me2U]

Thank you for the extra information, appreciated!

[Treepie]

I read that as the virus effect is not a U curve i.e. that children AND the old were not the worst affected ,it suggested that a weak immune system ,which children have ,was not the main risk factor .The main risk was to those with the other serious illnesses you quote. Left me puzzling about inclusion of diabetes but it can lead to loss of feet etc so probably more serious than thyroid problems.

I still suspect a weak immune system may be an added factor especially if elderly.

[KayS68]

I am probably asking a really stupid question, so apologies in advance! Lol. I’m on steroids after acute thyroiditis with thyrotoxicosis - A&E doc (after speaking to endos) put me on 30mg taper dose of prednisolone plus propranolol. Would I be “immuno-compromised” at the moment?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to KayS68]

The only answer I can give: I don't know.

But I would definitely consider it a possibility.

[KayS68 in reply to helvella]

Thank you. Nothing much I can do about it, but it was on my mind. If only I could stock up on hand sanitiser. Lol.

[HowCome in reply to KayS68]

If taking steroids, you are usually considered immuno-suppressed, immuno-compromised....

From NHS page on Steroids (eg prednisolone):

“When taken in doses higher than the amount your body normally produces, steroids reduce redness and swelling (inflammation). This can help with inflammatory conditions such as asthma and eczema.

Steroids also reduce the activity of the immune system, which is the body's natural defence against illness and infection.

This can help treat autoimmune conditions, such as...”

nhs.uk/conditions/steroids/

[KayS68 in reply to HowCome]

Thank you for replying. I wouldn’t have even thought about it, had it not been for this. The chances of any contact with it are so tiny, so I’m not concerned, but I guess should bear it in mind.

[Yppah]

There’s something about “big problem” making me wonder if a bit of a problem has been picked up. Possibly cynical.

[SilverAvocado in reply to Yppah]

I picked up on that sentence, too.

"Thyroid problems are common and the analysis from China would have likely picked up if there was a big problem for thyroid patients already. "

To me this smacks of so many statements from very traditional conventional medicine. They are saying that if an issue was large enough to be very obvious, or perhaps statistically significant in the pool of people who have had the virus, then it would be flagged up. This probably using very partial definitions of thyroid illness that patients wouldn't agree with.

And then if this flagging hasn't happened they completely rule out that thyroid patients could be at risk. Even if thinking logically you can see that thyroid patients have a long term chronic illness, and some of us are very unwell.

[jgelliss]

Thank You Helvella for this Very Concerning Topic that is now hit Universally . I have been thinking about it for some time since it has come to surface . Personally I think/feel that if our thyroid levels and not only ours that are already compromised but universally everyone ought to be checked out . Thyroid plays a *Big* role with our immune system.

[Treepie]

There is another issue that may become a problem. Up to 90% of generic meds used in the NHS are now imported. India and China are two of the main suppliers outside the EU. There could be supply chain problems,India has said it will stop exports . There are also quality issues with WHO stepping up inspections of active pharmaceutical ingredients in China and other emerging economies which offer cheap products.

We need to rethink the globalisation of supply chains which have caused a good many drug shortages in the past few years.

[jgelliss in reply to Treepie]

Great Point Treepie. I think each and every country ought to take the responsibility for their own manufacturing of meds . This is *Exactly* the *Point* that proves it. Other times it weather related . We ought not outsource our countries medications . That's MHO.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to jgelliss]

That sounds fine until reality intervenes.

Let us consider, should the UK produce every medicine it needs?

Should England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland each make every medicine they need?

Should Malta and Andorra make every medicine each needs?

If a new medicine is discovered or invented, should no country introduce it until that country has managed to make it?

If the UK, for example, manages to make a new medicine, should they be unable to export it to countries that have not managed to make it?

If demand drops so low that it is not sensible for the UK to make a batch (cost so high per dose), should it be unavailable to anyboidy in the UK?

If an anti-virus medicine is developed (or be identified as applicable) in another country should the UK refuse to use it?

If a UK manufacturer has a problem in their factory, should the UK not be allowed to import from elsewhere?

If a new process is developed in another country which reduces the cost of a medicine from astronomic to the same as paracetamol should the UK continue manufacturing by the expensive process?

How do we handle issues such as patents? Is the UK going to pay what the patent owners demand? Or simply allow manufacture without regard to patents?

I am absolutely not saying that changes shouldn't be investigated. I am saying that the issues are incredibly complicated and require a lot of deep thought.

[jgelliss in reply to helvella]

Yes Helvella . I understand you very well. But this exactly case in point that we need a great plan in place . We can not afford to be reliant on just one or two countries to make our meds etc. . We need to be self sufficient and have backup plan too. This and many other problems that may arise from this situation needs a very close investigation to be made so that if in the future Heaven Forbid this happens again and it may there are no guarantees . So that we don't go into a panic mood again . Countries can not afford this . It involves peoples well-being trust in their government and economics world wide well-being. This affected so many things in so many ways . More than we can imagine.

I heard in some cases people are afraid to go out of their homes and go in public gatherings . My husbands Dr 2 months ago already refused to shake hands because of the virus. I understood him very well and told him so too. So I can tell you that even amongst the professionals there are precautionary measures are being taken. I for one can not blame them.

[HowCome]

Thankyou very much for posting, helvella.

A nothingy bland statement.

But Lots of food for thought, within the replies above!

And took a look about for Covid19 statements by other groupings for other conditions in the family...

More “nothingy” stuff. But found some useful background info, for helping a relative, if their endocrine crisis should ever erupt (virus- or non-viral-related!)