Congenital Hypothyroidism among Infants Undergoing Thyroid Function Test in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive...

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Endocrinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Congenital hypothyroidism is a leading preventable cause of intellectual disability in infants.
• Routine screening for congenital hypothyroidism is not universally implemented, particularly in certain global regions.
• This study addresses the need for prevalence data in a tertiary care setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism among infants undergoing thyroid function tests.
• To highlight the importance of newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism.
• To provide data from a tertiary care center in Nepal.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional study utilizing laboratory records from April 2013 to April 2020.
• Thyroid function tests from 1243 infants were analyzed.
• Data analysis included calculating point prevalence with 95% Confidence Intervals.

Main Results:

• A prevalence of 4.50% (95% CI: 3.35-5.65) for congenital hypothyroidism was found among 1243 infants.
• The identified prevalence was higher compared to similar studies in comparable settings.
• Treatment-induced hyperthyroidism was an unexpected finding.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals a significant prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism, underscoring the need for systematic newborn screening.
• The observation of treatment-induced hyperthyroidism suggests potential gaps in regular and timely follow-up care for affected infants.
• Findings emphasize the importance of establishing and maintaining robust screening and follow-up protocols for congenital hypothyroidism.