ABSTRACT
Background: Hypothyroidism alone is not a risk factor for osteoporosis but the patient on treatment with levothyroxine in chronic terms have the greater chances of osteoporosis. This study is to evaluate the role of chronic levo-thyroxine treatment on bone mineral density and the development of osteoporosis.Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study in which patients with recently diagnosed as hypothyroidism were taken as the first group and the second group as those who were having hypothyroidism for more than 2 years plus on chronic treatment with levothyroxine. Healthy premenopausal women were the control group. TSH was measured in all and the T score were used to measure osteoporosis severity. T score of lumbar vertebra and neck of femur were used for comparison. The description of qualitative data was done in absolute frequencies and percentages. The description of quantitative data were done as the, mean standard deviation, median, minimum and maximum. In the comparison of qualitative data between groups, the Chi-square test and contingency tables was used by rearranging the percentages of several variables (TSH, t-score). The statistical significance was set p<0.05.Results: TSH levels in the first group were slightly different from rest of the groups. T score were significantly lesser in patients in the second group who are diagnosed with hypothyroidism and on treatment with levothyroxine.Conclusions: The treatment for hypothyroidism with levo thyroxine reduces both TSH and bone mineral density in the study groups. Proper control of risk factors and avoidance of high dose thyroxine supplements are an effective way in prevention of osteoporosis.