Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hypothyroidism among elderly subjects living in Karu village in the Federal Capital Territory.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study involving 308 elderly subjects. A structured interview administered questionnaire was used for relevant data collection including biodata, clinical signs, and symptoms of hypothyroidism. Weight, height, waist circumference, presence and estimated size of goiter, and blood pressure were measured. The sample population had their thyroid function accessed, along with their serum electrolytes, fasting lipid profile, and complete blood count.

Results: 308 elderly subjects were recruited, 154 males and 154 females. The mean age of the subjects was 70±8.7. The prevalence of overt hypothyroidism was 9.1% while that of subclinical hypothyroidism was 15.6%. Overt hypothyroidism was present in 3.2% of the subjects while 7.8% had subclinical hyperthyroidism. 64.3% were euthyroid. There was a female preponderance among subjects with overt hypothyroidism M: F 1:3.7. There was a female preponderance among subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism with M: F, 1:2. Hypothyroid subjects had a statistically significantly higher number of subjects with constipation, cold intolerance, and fatigue than euthyroid subjects {42(55.3), 26(34.2), 30(39.5)} vs. {14(7.1), 24(12.1), 28(14.1)} respectively P<0.05. The Mean TSH values were statistically significantly higher in the hypothyroid subjects than the euthyroid subjects, 8.6±2.2 vs. 2.5±1.5, P<0.05. FT4 and FT3 values were statistically significantly lower in the hypothyroid subjects compared to euthyroid subjects, 8.93.1 vs. 11.1±2.2 and 4.0± 1.7 vs. 4.6± 0.7 respectively, P<0.05.

Conclusion: The prevalence of overt hypothyroidism in the study was 9.1% and that of subclinical hypothyroidism was 15.6%, this prevalence is similar to that seen in other studies in developing countries.