STUDY ON SUBCLINICAL HYPOTHYROIDISM- PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

Dr. Sundeep Nutakki; Dr. V. Rama Mohana Rao; Dr G. Swarnalatha Devi

Volume : IX, Issue : I, January - 2020

STUDY ON SUBCLINICAL HYPOTHYROIDISM- PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

Dr. Sundeep Nutakki, Dr. V. Rama Mohana Rao, Dr G. Swarnalatha Devi

Abstract :

INTRODUCTION: Ageing is an inevitable process that converts young adults into older adults with deteriorating physiological fitness and progressively increasing risks of illness and death. The ageing of the endocrine system is characterised by the progressive loss of reserve capacity and impaired homeostatic regulation. These changes may not be clinically apparent under baseline conditions and the presenting manifestations are often nonspecific or muted or atypical or subtle. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To estimate the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in elderly patients attending Geriat–ric Outpatient Department (Tertiary care centre). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Outpatient setting in department of general medicine, ASRAM MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL PERIOD OF STUDY: AUGUST 2017 to OCTOBER 2019 INCLUSION CRITERIA: All patients attending general medicine outpatient clinic during the above mentioned period (maximum of 50 patients). EXCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Patients with recent surgery, recent myocardial infarction and with recent acute illness fol–lowed by hospitalisation in the past 6 months. RESULTS: The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism is considerably high in this study (16.7%). The prevalence increases as the age advances. The prevalence is more in females than in males.