IJCM₁45A: A Clinico-Epidemiological Profile of Patients with Thyroid Disorders Admitted to Tertiary Care Hospitals in Mangalore

Background: Thyroid ailments are frequently encountered endocrine disorders next to diabetes. They arise either due to functional aberrations of the thyroid gland resulting in over or under secretion of thyroid hormone or due to structural anomalies. People have varied constitutional, non-specific manifestations that cause abnormal metabolic functioning of the thyroid gland. Objectives: 1. To describe the socio-demographic characteristics of patients with thyroid disorders. 2. To analyze the clinical features, laboratory findings, and clinical outcomes of these patients. Methodology: This hospital-based descriptive study was conducted at the Government Wenlock Hospital in Mangalore. The study included patients admitted with thyroid disorders in the last 2 years. Data extraction sheet was developed from patient medical records. The sheet comprised three sections: socio-demographic information, clinical features at admission, and investigations and outcomes. Results: Most of the patients (52.8%) belonged to the 20-40 age group, followed by 30.5% in the 40-60 age group. Females comprised 81.5% of the study population, males -18.5%. 74.8% had swelling, 3.2% had facial puffiness. 1.8% had weight gain, only 1.2% had weight loss .16.3% had other comorbid conditions. 31.5% had low TSH levels 49.3% had normal TSH levels, 64.5 % - normal T3 levels, 63.2% - normal T4 levels. Anaemia was reported in 15.2% o, while 7.2% developed oedema. 34.2% had multinodular goitre, 20.2% - hypothyroidism 9.5 % - hyperthyroidism and 11.1% - malignancy. Out of the total 97% recovered 1% died 1% had discharge against medical advice and 1 % got discharged on request. Conclusion: Majority were females in the 20-40 age group. Majority of them had swelling followed by facial puffiness. Most of them had normal TSH, T3 and T4 levels, anaemia and oedema was also reported in few. Majority had multinodular goitre followed by hypothyroidism, malignancy, and hyperthyroidism. Majority had recovered.