Primary hypothyroidism quality of life assessment by application of different questionnaires and its different processing

Abstract

Primary hypothyroidism negatively affects patients' quality of life. Improving the quality of life is expected by establishing eutyreoid state using levothyroxine therapy. The quality of life can be "assessed" by applying various questionnaires, such as the general health questionnaire (GHQ12) and thyroid symptom questionnaire (TSQ). The aims of present study were to: sum standard and modified-ranked answers of both questionnaires, rank the scores, test differences in the absolute values of the scores between the groups, classify obtained scores in different clusters (no distress, a minor, and major distress), and test differences in the distribution of frequencies of the respondents among them. Cross-sectional study was conducted in Zemun Clinical Hospital and it included 90 subjects. The subjects were divided into three equal groups (30 subjects per group): hypothyroid without treatment, euthyroid with levothyroxine, and control, euthyroid group without treatment. The subjects answered the questions in the questionnaire, and the answers were then transformed into the ranking of two modelsstandard and modified, and then summarized. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS for Windows 18.0. The average level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the study population was 1.3 ± 0.3 (1.1-2.2) mU/L. Average TSQm, TSQs, GHQm and GHQs scores were 14±7, 13±6, 11±7 and 11±6 and differed between groups. The lowest scores were registered in the group of levothyroxine-treated, regardless of the ranking models, with the level of TSH that indicates an adequate substitution levothyroxine. Average TSQs/TSQm and GHQs/GHQm scores show a statistical correlation with each other. Scores and scores-defined clusters of both questionnaires are appropriate for clinical presentation shown by specific groups of the population. Considering that the average scores of the questionnaire differ from each other, and that both models rank-transformation of the same questionnaire give a similar score, it is sufficient to use one questionnaire from both categories of instruments for testing the quality of life. The ease of applying these questionnaires, independent of the transformation obtained in response ranges and their application when starting levothyroxine substitution, were used to assess the effectiveness of the therapy.