Introduction: Hypothyroidism, characterized by underactive thyroid function, has significant implications for cognitive function and functional exercise capacity, impacting individuals’ overall well-being. It can negatively affect various cognitive domains and decrease exercise tolerance, leading to muscle weakness, fatigue, and poor cardiovascular health. Aims: The objective of the study was to compare the cognition and functional exercise capacity in women with hypothyroidism and euthyroid women in Ahmedabad. Materials and Methods: A case–control study was conducted in the community of Ahmedabad. Cognitive assessment was performed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and functional exercise capacity was evaluated through a Six-min walk test (6-MWT). The study included 25 hypothyroid women aged 18–60 years with 25 age-matched euthyroid women. Women with severe cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, cognitive, and orthopedic problems were excluded. Mann–Whitney U -test was used to compare the mean MMSE scores and t-test for 6MWT scores between the groups. The level of significance was kept at 5%. Results: The mean age of women with hypothyroidism was 45.32 ± 10.16 years, whereas in the control group, it was 45 ± 7.48 years. The mean MMSE score of women with hypothyroidism was 27.08 ± 1.97, whereas in the euthyroid women, it was 28.8 ± 1.15 ( U = 152, P = 0.001). The mean distance for 6-MWT of women with hypothyroidism was 332.89 ± 70.25 m, whereas in the euthyroid women, it was 400.28 ± 36.34 m ( t = −4.26, P < 0.001). The association between cognition in hypothyroid individuals and with years of hypothyroidism ( r = 0.479, P = 0.016). Conclusion: Women with hypothyroidism exhibited lower cognitive levels and functional exercise capacity compared to age-matched euthyroid women.
Aashvi Hemantbhai Sevak (Tue,) studied this question.