Thyroid status among individuals attending a tertiary care center in central part of Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Thyroid dysfunction is one of the common endocrine problems. Only a few community-based studies have been done in our country to determine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction. Studies from various parts of the country have shown different prevalences, with an average of around 25%. The prevalence and pattern of thyroid dysfunction vary based on demographic and environmental factors, including iodine level. The study aims to determine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in a tertiary care center in the central part of the country based on hospital laboratory records.

Methods: A hospital-based observational cross-sectional study was performed in the department of Biochemistry at KIST Medical College Teaching Hospital (KISTMCTH). Hospital laboratory data records from 2022 to 2023 were reviewed with ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 2079/80/106). Descriptive statistics were presented as frequency, mean, and standard deviation. Comparison of thyroid profile among gender & age groups of the study population was performed by chi-square, and means were compared with the student’s test.

Results: Among 2602 individuals, 607 (23.3%) were male and 1995 (76.7%) were female. Among them, 646 (24.8%) had abnormal thyroid function. The mean age of females was 38.2 years ± 15.2 years, and that of males was 44 years ± 20.6 years. The study revealed a higher prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among individuals over the age of 40 years. Females are affected more, and subclinical hypothyroidism accounts for much more of thyroid dysfunction.

Conclusion: The thyroid dysfunction prevalence is 24.8%, which is considerably high, with a female preponderance, and individuals above the age of 40 years are affected more than individuals below the age of 40.