A Prospective Study of Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients with Type2 Diabetes Mellitus in A Tertiary Care Hospital (Faamch, Barpeta, Assam, India)

Abstract

3 Abstract: Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic disorder with its increasing incidence world wide. Thyroid dysfunction is another common endocrine disorder frequently encountered in clinical practice(1). The association between diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorder is widely known. Under this backdrop, the present study was undertaken with the following aims and objectives. 1) To know the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Type 2 diabetes mellitus. 2)To know the spectrum of thyroid dysfunction in Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: This hospital based prospective study was conducted in the department of Medicine, FAA Medical College & hospital, Barpeta, Assam, India over a period of one year from May 2015 to April 2016. A total number of 120 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in the study. Data collection was done by history taking, clinical examination and essential laboratory tests. Results: Out of 120 patients , 27 (22.5%) had thyroid dysfunction and remaining 93 patients had normal thyroid function. In this study, out of 27 thyroid dysfunction patients, 8 (6.6%) had clinical hypothyroidism , 17 (14.1%) had subclinical hypothyroidism and 2 (1.6%) diabetics had hyperthyroidism. Thyroid dysfunction was seen more in female 18 (15%) cases than in male 9 (7.5%) cases. Thyroid dysfunction was more common in diabetic patients above 60 years of age. Further, diabetics with microvascular complications had more thyroid dysfunctions. Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study showed a high prevalence of thyroid dysfunction (22.5%) among the diabetic patients studied. Subclinical hypothyroidism was more common than clinical hypothyroidism. It is known that undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction in diabetics increases the cardiovascular risk in these patients. Hence, screening for thyroid dysfunction among diabetic patients should be routinely performed to reduce the morbidity and mortality.