Calidad de vida en pacientes con hipotiroidismo / Quality of life in patients with Hypothyroidism

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Patients with hypothyroidism may have worse quality of life, specially in Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (HT). Objective: Describe differences in the quality of life in patients with HT, compared to other causes of hypothyroidism in ambulatory patients. Method: Cross sectional, observational and descriptive study. The survey SF36 was applied, with prior authorization, to hypothyroid outpatients over 18 years without psychiatric, physical or mental disorder, dividing the sample into two groups patients with TH and other causes of hypothyroidism. We used QualityMetric Health OutcomesTM Scoring Software 5.0, that gives a descriptive analysis of each area included in the instrument. Results: 53 patients, of whom 30 where diagnosed with TH, and 23 with other causes of hypothyroidism were surveyed. The characteristics were similar in both groups. The total group of hypothyroid patients had mental component under the average. In the specific analysis of the groups, the physical component was within the average general population. The mental component, was decreased in patients with other causes of hypothyroidism, but not in patients with TH. Conclusion: Comparing both groups, there were no differences in the physical component of patients with hypothyroidism. The mental component of the total group of hypothyroid patients compared to the general population was below average, especially in patients with other causes of hypothyroidism. The reason is unclear, but could be related to the absence of endogenous thyroid hormones