Endocrine Abstracts

Aims: We set out to dispel the commonly held myth that endocrine practice in district general hospitals is dominated by thyroid disease. A local questionnaire revealed trainees felt thyroid disease made-up >50% of DGH referrals.

Methods: We reviewed consecutive new patient referrals to our endocrine clinic over a 2-year period. We documented the referral and outcome diagnosis and looked at the distribution of these referrals across the areas of the endocrine system. This was a retrospective electronic case note review. Diagnosis/ referral questions were noted. Concluding diagnosis also noted.

Results: Over 2 years (May 2009 – April 2011) there were 155 new patient referrals to 72 clinics. These were classified as follows:

Thyroid 34% (53/155), adrenal 4% (6/155), bone 1% (2/155), diabetes 4% (6/155), DNA/failed to attend 7% (11/155), gonad 15% (23/155), metabolic 15% (12/155), other 9% (15/155), and parathyroid 11% (17/155).

Conclusions: Whilst thyroid disease represents the single largest glandular problem of new patient referrals to this endocrine clinic, it still makes up only one third of all referrals. Given that thyroid disease is the commonest endocrine abnormality (outside of diabetes) this is not surprising. However, trainees do have a disproportionate view that all DGH endocrine practice is thyroid disease rather than the more diverse mix that is actually seen.