Publication:

A hospital based cross sectional study on clinical profile of patients with hypothyroidism

Background Comorbidities and complications are more in patients with hypothyroidism compared to other people. hence early diagnosis and early treatment for hypothyroidism can prevent a lot of complications in patients with hypothyroidism and this is very true for subclinical hypothyroidism. Objective was to study the clinical profile of patients with hypothyroidism.

Methods A hospital based cross sectional study was carried out among 40 clinically diagnosed and biochemically confirmed hypothyroid cases of age group 21-60 years of age. Detailed clinical history was taken to note down the presenting symptoms. Thorough clinical examination was done to ascertain the clinical features and confirm. Data was analyzed using proportions.

Results The mean age of males was slightly more than females 36.8 years vs. 35.13 years. Total number of male patients was much lower i.e. only 10(25%) compared to 30(75%) female patients. The most common age group affected in either sexes was 31-40 years followed by 21-30 years. Among all the symptoms with which the patients presented, the most common symptom was weight gain which was seen in 29(72.5%) of the cases. The most common presenting sign was BMI >25 kg/m2 in 27 cases i.e. 67.5% of the cases followed by dry skin in 25 cases i.e. 62.5%.

Conclusions Any patient presenting with weight gain, lethargy, dry skin, hoarseness, dyspnoea, constipation, cold intolerance, depression, menstrual abnormalities, overweight, obesity, bradycardia, non-pitting edema, hypertension, pallor should be suspected of hypothyroidism and thyroid profile should be done to rule hypothyroidism.