Thyroid Function Test: A Screening Tool for Diagnosis of Thyroid Diseases: A One-Year Study Conducted at a District Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of abnormalities in thyroid function tests among individuals from Gujrat district seeking evaluation at Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital in Gujrat.

Methodology: All specimens tested for Thyroid Function Tests (TFTs) in the hospital laboratory between January 2023 and December 2023 were included in the study. The results of the thyroid function tests were classified into categories of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism based on established criteria. Hypothyroidism was defined as a TSH level above the reference range, typically greater than 4.0 milli-international units per liter (mIU/L). A typical cut-off value for diagnosing hyperthyroidism was a TSH level below the reference range, usually less than 0.4 mIU/L, in conjunction with elevated FT4 and/or T3 levels. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 35.39 years, The majority of participants were female, accounting for 82.3%, while males constituted 17.7% of the total sample. The most of the cases 62.0% had normal values of thyroid profile, while hypothyroidism cases were found 15.20% and 21.90% cases had hyperthyroidism. Furthermore, the analysis suggests that there is no significant association between types thyroid disorders and age groups (p = 0.156) or gender (p = 0.973).

Conclusion: In conclusion, our analysis of thyroid profiles revealed a higher prevalence of thyroid disorder (Hypothyroidism 15.20% and 21.90% hyperthyroidism) according to a one-year data. Moreover, thyroid is not significantly influenced by age and gender. These results underscore the importance of routine thyroid screening to identify and manage thyroid disorders effectively, irrespective of age or gender.