Knowledge and Awareness About Risk Factors, Clinical Manifestations, and Prevention of Thyroid Disorders in the Era of COVID-19 and Their Association With Socioeconomic Status Among the General Population in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT

Background Thyroid dysfunction represents the most commonly observed endocrine illness within the population of Saudi Arabia. Thyroid cancer has been recognized as the second most commonly occurring malignant neoplasm among women in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting that COVID-19 and, to a certain degree, immunization may have an impact on thyroid function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of public knowledge, awareness, and attitudes pertaining to the manifestations and risk factors of thyroid disease. Additionally, the study sought to examine the potential role of COVID-19 as a risk factor and explore preventive measures in the context of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted targeting the Saudi population living in Riyadh aged 18 years and older. A self-administered questionnaire constructed on Google Forms was distributed to the general population using an online platform. The questionnaire consisted of five sections demographic data, risk factors for thyroid disorders, clinical manifestations, prevention, and history of thyroid disease. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of better knowledge of thyroid diseases.  Results Among the 693 participants enrolled, 57.7% were female, and 31.7% were aged between 18 and 25 years. The overall mean knowledge score was 12.2 (SD = 6.57) out of 23 points. Poor knowledge of the risk factors, clinical manifestations, and prevention was observed in 50.4% of the participants. A total of 27.6% had moderate knowledge, and 22.1% had good knowledge levels. Furthermore, only 33.9% of the participants believed that COVID-19 infection was a risk factor. The results of the binary logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals within the age range of 36-45 years, females, and students had a significantly higher level of knowledge compared to other participants (p<0.05). Conclusion This study revealed that the general population of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, lacked adequate knowledge, awareness, and attitudes regarding the risk factors, clinical symptoms, and prevention of thyroid problems. However, middle-aged individuals, females, and those who were enrolled as students showed a higher level of knowledge. Regarding the pathogenesis of COVID-19, it was observed that all participants had a limited understanding and a lack of awareness. Insufficient public awareness may result in misunderstandings, insufficient identification, and potential oversight of COVID-19-infected patients with thyroid dysfunction. Therefore, it is imperative that healthcare authorities intensify their efforts to broaden the dissemination of information throughout the population.