Clinical presentation and demographic characteristics of diagnosed adult hypothyroidism at primary health care centers in Kingdom of Bahrain

ABSTRACT

Hypothyroidism is second only to diabetes mellitus as the most common endocrine disorder, but has attained little attention in the literature.The prevalence internationally is reported as 2-5% increasing up to 15% by age 75 years. To provide a baseline clinical profile of diagnosed adult hypothyroidism patients at primary health care in the kingdom of Bahrain. Primary health care centers in Bahrain Cross sectional descriptive study. Medical records of 239 hypothyroid patients selected from a list of patients who underwent thyroid function test [TFT] during the year 2005 at primary health care centers in Bahrain were reviewed and all patients were contacted by phone. Socio demographic and clinical data were recorded. Mean age of patients was 48 years. Females represented 88% of the study sample. Family history was positive in 47% of patients. The two main presenting symptoms were fatigue 66% and sleepiness 47% followed by emotional liability, weight gain and constipation. The majority of the patients [55%] were diagnosed during the past five years. The study is a primary one on hypothyroidism in Bahrain. Results showed that hypothyroidism is more common in females and the most common presenting symptoms were fatigue and sleepiness