Frequency of hypothyroidism and its association with perinatal and obstetric morbidity among women admitted for delivery
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59736/IJP.24.02.1075Keywords:
Hypothyroidism, Obstetric Outcomes, Perinatal Outcomes, Pregnancy, Subclinical Hypothyroidism, Thyroid DysfunctionAbstract
Background: Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder in pregnancy and may adversely affect maternal and fetal outcomes. Limited local data are available regarding thyroid dysfunction among women presenting for delivery. This study aimed to determine the frequency of hypothyroidism and its association with obstetric and perinatal morbidity.
Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi, over six months. A total of 400 pregnant women aged 18–45 years with singleton pregnancies admitted for delivery were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling. Thyroid function tests were performed at admission, and participants were classified as euthyroid, subclinical hypothyroid, or overt hypothyroid. Obstetric and perinatal outcomes were recorded and analyzed using SPSS version 25, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: Among 400 women, 287 (71.8%) were euthyroid and 113 (28.2%) had hypothyroidism, including 97 (24.3%) subclinical and 16 (4.0%) overt cases. No significant association was found between hypothyroidism and preeclampsia (p = 0.274), preterm delivery (p = 0.301), cesarean section (p = 0.819), low birth weight (p = 0.392), NICU admission (p = 0.926), or neonatal mortality (p = 0.279).
Conclusion: Hypothyroidism, particularly subclinical hypothyroidism, was relatively common among women admitted for delivery. However, no significant association was observed with the evaluated obstetric or perinatal outcomes. Larger prospective studies are required to clarify the role of thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy and guide future screening strategies.
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