A study of the effects of COVID-19 on the endocrine system of adolescent athletes

Objective of the study: to study the impact of a new coronavirus infection on the endocrine system of adolescent athletes.

Materials and methods. The data of 1,415 adolescent athletes of the Moscow national teams (aged 13 to 17) who underwent an in‑depth medical examination from January 2021 to December 2023 at Branch No. 1 of the S.I. Spasokukotsky Moscow Centre for Research and Practice in Medical Rehabilitation, Restorative and Sports Medicine of Moscow Healthcare Department, based on the results of the examination, were referred for consultation with an endocrinologist were analyzed.

Results. Among all adolescent athletes who underwent the medical examination, 12 % were diagnosed with endocrine diseases. Various thyroid diseases were detected in 1,113 young athletes and accounted for 78 % of all endocrine morbidity. COVID‑19 was contracted by 315 adolescents, which accounted for 22.3 % of the group examined by the endocrinologist. 1,100 adolescents, or 77.7 % of those examined, did not have COVID‑19. Among adolescents who had the disease, 98 % of cases were mild and asymptomatic. The morbidity structure of adolescent athletes who had COVID‑19 did not differ significantly from that of those who had not had the disease. A significantly higher incidence of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) after COVID‑19 was found (16 % in those who had the disease and 10 % in those who had not had the disease). A significantly higher incidence of type 1 diabetes was also found in athletes who had COVID‑19 (5 athletes, 4 % in the morbidity structure, of which 1 athlete was diagnosed with the disease for the first time) compared to adolescents who had not had the infection (3 athletes, 1 % in the morbidity structure).

Conclusion. Given the more frequent detection of autoimmune endocrine diseases in adolescent athletes who have had COVID‑19, compared to non‑athletes, regular screening of athletes who have had the viral infection with a study of the biochemical profile and hormonal status is necessary for early diagnosis of the disease and timely treatment.

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