Thyroid dysfunction among patients assessed by thyroid function tests at a tertiary care hospital: a retrospective...

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Internal Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Limited data exists on the full spectrum of thyroid dysfunction in African populations beyond iodine deficiency.
• Thyroid disorders present a significant health burden, with potential for serious complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the spectrum of thyroid dysfunction using thyroid hormone profiles in patients at a tertiary hospital in Ghana.
• To identify the prevalence of different types of thyroid dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 215 patient records from Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (January 2019 - December 2021).
• Extraction and analysis of thyroid hormone profiles (FT3, FT4, TSH) and patient demographics.
• Classification of thyroid dysfunction based on American Thyroid Association guidelines.

Main Results:

• The study included 215 patients, with 85.1% females and 14.9% males, mean age 45±14 years.
• Primary hyperthyroidism was the most prevalent dysfunction (57.7%), followed by primary hypothyroidism (22.3%).
• Other diagnosed conditions included subclinical hyperthyroidism (9.3%), euthyroid sick syndrome (6.5%), and subclinical hypothyroidism (4.6%).

Conclusions:

• Primary hyperthyroidism is the predominant thyroid dysfunction diagnosed in this Ghanaian cohort.
• The high prevalence of hyperthyroidism underscores the need for timely interventions to prevent associated cardiac morbidity and mortality.