The incidence of thyroid dysfunction in diabetic patients – A study done at a tertiary care center in South India

Abstract

It has been noted that in the Indian population the incidence of thyroid disorder is common and its incidence rises with advancing age. Screening for thyroid disorder is indicated for the certain high risk patients such as elderly and those already having other endocrinal disorders There are various studies that have shown a finding that a higher than normal prevalence of thyroid disorders in type 2 diabetic patients, of which hypothyroidism is the commonest disorder Owing to this we at the medical college at south India decided to evaluate the occurrence of thyroid dysfunction in patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and also to compare the level of thyroid dysfunction in the younger and the older population.Department of surgery, medicine and Pharmacology at Al Azhar Medical College Thodupuzha, Kerala, India for a duration of 3 years on 300 patients. The present study was an observational study during the period of study, the test subjects patients having diabetes mellitus and healthy individuals (Controls)coming for regular health check-up with no co morbidities detected were included in this study as controls.In the non -geriatric age group the mean age was 49.6 years SD + 8.15 years and in the geriatric age group the mean age was 68.78 years SD + 4.83 years. The commonest age group in the study was between the age of 61-70 years with of the study population. The age group in the present study ranged between the age of 30 years and 79 years. The incidence of diabetes mellitus increased with age, but the control of sugars is better with age thyroid dysfunction was as follows 20% had hyperthyroidism (36%) hypothyroidism. There is a linear increase with the prevalence of thyroid disorders with age with a r= 0.77 and p < 0.05.The incidence of thyroid dysfunction also increased with age As compared to the non -geriatric group which was the incidence higher in older age group p < 0.05.This study reveals about at least one in three who have DM are suffering from thyroid dysfunction, that increases with increasing age and uncontrolled sugars in this part of the world, which might warrant routine screening.