Interleukin-32 (IL-32) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine induced during viral infections and chronic pulmonary disease.<h4>Aim</h4>Aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and severe COVID-19 on circulating IL-32 levels.<h4>Study design</h4>Observational retrospective biomarker study.<h4>Patients & methods</h4>We analyzed 949 healthy blood donors (pre-pandemic and pandemic-era) and 212 patients hospitalized due to severe COVID-19 during the first five infection waves. The gene discussed is IL32; the disease is COVID-19.