Unraveling the Relationship between Hypothyroidism and Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency and association between hypothyroidism and Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM) among patients at a tertiary care hospital.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital, Islamabad from August 2023 to February 2024, enrolled 200 Type II DM patients through non-probability consecutive sampling. Samples for HbA1c and thyroid function tests were collected and analyzed. Data on demographics, clinical history, and laboratory results were statistically evaluated using SPSS 26.0, with significance determined at p<0.05.

Results: In a study of 200 Type II DM patients, key findings include a slight male predominance (54%) and a middle-aged demographic with a mean age of 55.91 ± 9.55 years. The prevalence of hypothyroidism was 17.5%, with subclinical hypothyroidism at 14.5%. Hypothyroidism was significantly more prevalent among females (65.7%) and in the age group 56-65 years, indicating a notable association between age, gender, and thyroid dysfunction (p < 0.001). Obesity (p=0.018) diabetes duration > 10 years (<0.001) was associated with increased risk of hypothyroidism. There was positive correlation between HbA1c and TSH levels (r = 0.176), a weak negative correlation with fT3 levels (r = -0.193) and fT4 levels (r = -0.135).

Conclusion: This study found a significant association between Type II DM and thyroid dysfunction, with hypothyroidism more prevalent in older, obese females and linked to longer diabetes duration, suggesting a need for routine thyroid screening in diabetic patients to manage potential complications effectively.