Changes In Thyroid Status Of Women In An Iodine Deficiency Disorder Region
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https://doi.org/10.61705/m1xq3y87Keywords:
Thyroid status, Hypothyroidism, Iodine deficiency, Women’s health, Thyroid hormonesAbstract
Iodine deficiency remains a leading cause of thyroid dysfunction worldwide, particularly among women of reproductive age. Chronic iodine insufficiency disrupts thyroid hormone synthesis, resulting in hypothyroidism and other thyroid-related disorders. This study aimed to determine the changes in thyroid status of women in an iodine deficiency disorder region.
A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using medical records of 200 women who attended the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria, between January 2020 and December 2024. Data on serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4) levels were retrieved from the hospital’s electronic database. Thyroid status was categorized as hypothyroid or non-hypothyroid based on standard reference ranges. Descriptive statistics summarized the data, and chi-square tests evaluated associations, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Among the 200 participants, 15% were hypothyroid, while 85% were non-hypothyroid. Analysis of TSH levels showed that 34.5% had low TSH, 50.5% had normal TSH, and 15% exhibited high TSH concentrations. Notably, T4 assessment revealed a high burden of hormone deficiency, with 71.5% presenting with low T4 and only 28.5% showing elevated T4. These findings indicate a widespread disturbance in thyroid hormone production consistent with chronic iodine deficiency.
In conclusion, hypothyroidism remains a significant health problem among women in this iodine-deficient region, with a remarkably high prevalence of low T4 levels. These results highlight the urgent need for sustained iodine supplementation programs, public health education, and routine thyroid screening to mitigate the burden of iodine deficiency disorders and their long-term complications.
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