Estimation of Prevalence and Patterns of Thyroid Dysfunction in a Tertiary Care Centre in Uttarakhand, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Thyroid dysfunction is a common endocrine disorder, defined as the altered serum Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels with normal or altered FT3 and FT4 (triiodothyronine and thyroxine) levels. The spectrum of thyroid disorders includes hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, goiter/ iodine deficiency disorders, autoimmune thyroiditis, thyroid cancer, as well as subclinical hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. However, further research is required on the spectrum of thyroid disorders, apart from goiter/iodine deficiency disorders in the study population mentioned. Aim: To investigate the prevalence and patterns of thyroid disorders in the clinical biochemistry laboratory of a tertiary care hospital in the hilly region of Uttarakhand, India. Materials and Methods: Present cross-sectional study was conducted in the clinical biochemistry laboratory of Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali (VCSG) Govt. Institute of Medical Science and Research Centre, Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India. The study population consisted of 950 subjects who underwent Thyroid Function Test (TFT) panel investigation from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistical tools (mean, frequency, percentage) and correlation analysis of thyroid disorder with age and gender using Spearman’s rank correlation test. Results: Among 950 TFT panel reports, thyroid dysfunction was prevalent in 386 (40.63%) patients, of which 307 (79.53%) were females and 79 (20.47%) were males. The mean age±SD of the 386 patients with thyroid dysfunction was 32.24±8.77 years. Among these 386 thyroid dysfunction patients, the majority, 264 (68.39%) were in the 19-39 years age group. A very weak statistical correlation was observed between thyroid dysfunction with age and with gender among the 386 patients. Out of the total number of patients (950), 156 patients had euthyroid hyperthyroxinaemia (16.42%), 101 had subclinical hypothyroidism (10.63%), 74 had euthyroid sick syndrome (7.78%), 42 had subclinical hyperthyroidism (4.42%), 10 had primary (overt) hypothyroidism (1.05%), one had primary (overt) hyperthyroidism (0.11%), and two had secondary hyperthyroidism (0.21%). Conclusion: The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in the present study was high, with a greater proportion in females and the 19- 39 years age group. The most common disorders observed were euthyroid hyperthyroxinaemia, subclinical hypothyroidism, and euthyroid sick syndrome.