Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Dec 14, 2025 1 month, 2 weeks, 16 hours, 29 minutes ago
Medical News: COVID-19 Leaves a Hidden Hormonal Legacy
Many people believe that once they recover from COVID-19, the danger is over. However, new long-term research now shows that the virus may quietly damage the body’s hormone systems for years. A four-year follow-up study of people previously hospitalized with COVID-19 has found alarming rates of new diabetes and thyroid immune disorders in individuals who had no such conditions before infection. This
Medical News report highlights growing concerns that COVID-19 can permanently disrupt the endocrine system, which controls blood sugar, metabolism, and thyroid function.
A four-year study shows COVID-19 can silently trigger diabetes and thyroid disorders long after recovery
Who Conducted the Study and Where
The research was conducted by scientists from Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, the Clinical Hospital of Pneumology and Infectious Diseases of Brașov, Transilvania University of Brașov, and the County Emergency Clinical Hospital of Sibiu in Romania. The team followed 96 adults who had been hospitalized with COVID-19 between 2020 and 2021 and re-examined them between 2024 and 2025.
Shockingly High Rates of New Diabetes
Four years after infection, 27 percent of participants had developed type 2 diabetes despite having normal blood sugar levels before COVID-19. The risk was especially high in those who had high blood sugar during their initial hospital stay, even if they were never diagnosed with diabetes at the time. Patients who experienced severe COVID-19 were far more likely to develop diabetes later, showing that the intensity of the original illness plays a critical role in long-term damage.
COVID-19 and Thyroid Autoimmunity
The thyroid gland was also heavily affected. More than 40 percent of participants showed signs of thyroid autoimmunity, meaning their immune systems had begun attacking their own thyroid tissue. Blood tests revealed high levels of thyroid antibodies, while ultrasound scans detected inflammation, cysts, and nodules in many patients. Importantly, thyroid problems appeared even in people who had mild COVID-19, proving that long-term damage is not limited to severe cases.
Nearly Half Suffer Long-Term Hormone Disorders
Overall, almost 48 percent of the study group developed at least one endocrine disorder, either diabetes, thyroid autoimmunity, or both. About 16 percent suffered from both conditions at the same time. These findings suggest that COVID-19 can trigger lasting immune and metabolic changes that continue silently for years after infection.
Why This Matters for Survivors
The study shows that COVID-19 is not just a respiratory illness but a disease capable of long-term hormonal disruption. Even people who feel fully recovered may face hidden health risks. Doctors are now urging long-term monitoring of blood sugar and thyroid function in anyone who has been hospitalized with COVID-19, especially older adults and those who experienced severe illness.
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Key Takeaways and Future Concerns
These findings raise serious concerns about a growing wave of delayed chronic illnesses linked to COVID-19. Long-term hormone monitoring could help detect problems early and prevent complications such as heart disease, fatigue, and metabolic decline. As millions worldwide have survived COVID-19, the true health burden may only now be coming into focus.
The study findings were published on a preprint server and are currently being peer reviewed.
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202511.1486
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Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
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