ABSTRACT Objective: Thyroid volume varies within each population according to different clinical and biochemical factors and can change during pregnancy. The present investigation was aimed to determine the reference values for thyroid volume in pregnant women and their predictive factors. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 360 healthy pregnant women. The following variables were examined: maternal age, gestational age, skin color, current smoking status, parity, use of iodinated supplements, body mass index, thyrotropin, total and free thyroid hormones, thyroglobulin, antithyroid antibodies, chorionic gonadotropin, cholesterol and triglycerides. Results: The mean thyroid volume was 5.3 ± 1.3 mL, 5.4 ± 1.6 mL and 5.6 ± 2.5 mL in the first trimester, second trimester and third trimester, respectively. The reference interval was 2.47-9.49 mL in the first trimester, 3.17-9.01 mL in the second trimester, and 3.00-12.38 mL in the third trimester. Free triiodothyronine and triglycerides were predictors of thyroid volume (corrected R2 = 0.12; p = 0.000). Conclusion: This study is the first to determine the reference values for thyroid volume and its predictive factors in pregnant women from Cuba, a Caribbean island with sustainable elimination of iodine deficiency disorders.

Introduction: Initial reports of SARS CoV2 virus infections identified the male sex with the highest incidence and lethality and in women the pregnancy was particularized. Social isolation has an impact on men and women. In Cuba  persons with COVID19 disease have a similar distribution according sex, it would be necessary to identify what occurs in middle-aged women where the biological changes of menopause and the burden of their social work must influence the behavior of the disease. Objective: To describe the incidence and lethality of adults with SARS - Cov2 infection with an emphasis on middle-aged women. Subjects and methods: from the reports of Cuban Ministry of Health the total number of people aged between 20-50 years was extract, grouped into 20-39; 40-49; 50-59 years that according to the cycle llife of the woman  were considered reproductive years, years of transition to menopause and posmenopausal years. We calculated incidence rate and lethality according sex and age subgropus. Results: Adults aged 20-59 years were the ones with the highest incidence among patients with active disease, with higher rate in women between 50-59 years. Mortalitty with higher in the male sex and in postmenopausal women. Alcoholism was present in the mortality in men aged 20-29 years. Conclusions: It is necessary to visualize the influence between the biological changes associated with menopause and gender overload on the behavior of COVID19 in middle-aged women.

Introducción: Reportes iníciales de la infección por virus SARS CoV2 identificaron el sexo masculino con mayor riesgo de incidencia y letalidad, y en la mujer se particularizo el embarazo. El aislamiento social tiene impacto en hombres y mujeres. En Cuba, las personas con la enfermedad COVID 19 tienen distribución similar según sexos, seria pertinente identificar  que ocurre en la mujer de edad mediana, donde los cambios biológicos de la menopausia y la sobrecarga  de su labor social, deben  influir en el comportamiento de la enfermedad. Objetivo: Describir la incidencia y letalidad de los adultos con infección por el virus SARS-CoV2 con énfasis en la mujer de edad mediana. Metodología: De los reportes del Ministerio de Salud Pública de Cuba se extrajeron: total de personas de ambos sexos con edades entre 20-59, agrupadas 20-39; 40-49 y 50-59 años, que según el ciclo de vida de la mujer fueron considerados años: reproductivos, en transición a la menopausia y de posmenopausia respectivamente. Se calcularon: la tasa de incidencia y la letalidad según sexo,  y  subconjunto de edades. Resultados: Los adultos entre 20 y 59 años fueron los de mayor incidencia entre los pacientes activos. La  tasa, superior en las mujeres con edades entre  50- 59 años. La letalidad fue mayor en el sexo masculino,  y en las mujeres en el grupo de posmenopausia. El alcoholismo estuvo presente en  la mortalidad en varones entre 20- 29 años. Conclusiones: se requiere visualizar la  influencia entre los cambios biológicos asociados con la menopausia  y la sobrecarga de género en el comportamiento de la COVID19  en la mujer de edad mediana.