[Hypothyroidism in adults in a basic health area]

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder.
• Accurate diagnosis and management are crucial for patient outcomes.
• Prevalence and characteristics in primary care settings require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of hypothyroidism in adults.
• To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of hypothyroidism.
• To utilize computerized clinical records for data analysis.

Main Methods:

• Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study design.
• Inclusion of 214 adult patients (≥14 years) diagnosed with hypothyroidism.
• Data collected via clinical interviews and questionnaires.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of hypothyroidism was 5.7%.
• Sub-clinical hypothyroidism accounted for 74.8% of cases.
• 85.5% of patients were women; mean age was 49.71 years.
• 53.7% lacked thyroid antibody results, yet 75.2% received levothyroxine treatment.

Conclusions:

• Sub-clinical hypothyroidism is highly prevalent in primary care.
• Potential for misdiagnosis and over-medication exists.
• A review of diagnostic and treatment protocols for hypothyroidism is recommended.