DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i08.068

Pages: 3096-3102

Thyroid dysfunction is slowly taking an epidemic form, only after Diabetes Mellitus. Since thyroid dysfunction adversely affects body’s metabolism, and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, it has become imperative to evaluate the cause of increasing prevalence of Thyroid disorders in this post-iodization era. As a first step, this prospective observational study was undertaken in Central Clinical Laboratory, Gauhati Medical College & Hospital to get an approximate picture of the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in this North Eastern Corner of India. The aim of the study was to evaluate i) the prevalence of abnormal thyroid function and ii) the relationship between abnormal thyroid function and lipid levels. The study was planned as a prospective observational study. All the thyroid reports generated from processing of samples of hospital admitted patients were analyzed and data of abnormal thyroid hormone reports collected. Lipid profile reports of the patients with abnormal thyroid reports were also recorded. In results thyroid Function Test was done on 17323 samples during the one year period of study. Analysis of the reports presented thyroid dysfunction as 21.05% with a female preponderance. Subclinical Hypothyroidism was 13.64% followed by Subclinical Hyperthyroidism, 4.72%. Incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism was found to be more in females and in lower age groups while subclinical hyperthyroidism in higher age groups. In conclusion the presentations of thyroid disorders are non-specific and undiagnosed thyroid disorder increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. So screening for thyroid disease should be routinely performed in the young population for early diagnosis and treatment.