Status of Thyroid Disorder among the Thyroid Function Test Samples Received in a Laboratory among Postmenopausal Women: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Thyroid dysfunction prevalence is high in females worldwide which increases with age. Postmenopausal and elderly women are particularly at risk of developing comorbidities and mortality related to thyroid dysfunction. We aimed to study the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in postmenopausal women in the National Reference Laboratory of Nepal.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in National Reference Laboratory from January 2019 to June 2019 including postmenopausal females, ≥49 years. The database of thyroid function test result was used for statistical analysis and proportion of thyroid dysfunction was calculated. The data was collected after approval from the institutional review committee. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21 was used to study descriptive data.

Results: Out of a total of 160 postmenopausal females with thyroid function tests, 71 (44.4%) had thyroid dysfunction. Subclinical hypothyroidism was the frequently occurring thyroid dysfunction 51 (32%) followed by subclinical hyperthyroidism 13 (8%), hypothyroidism 3 (2%) and hyperthyroidism 3 (2%). In our study population, thyroid dysfunction peaked at 49 to 58 years of age interval 53 (33.1%) and subclinical hypothyroidism was the most frequent form 38 (23.7%).

Conclusions: Subclinical hypothyroidism was the common thyroid dysfunction in postmenopausal age which peaked at 49 to 58 years of age group. Early postmenopausal females are predisposed to increased risk of comorbidities (cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis with high fracture, depression) which could be exacerbated with thyroid dysfunction; therefore awareness of thyroid dysfunction prevalence and thyroid screening for early management seems appropriate in Nepalese postmenopausal women.