"THE HAEMATOLOGICAL IMPACT OF HYPOTHYROIDISM: UNRAVELING THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THYROID DYSFUNCTION AND BLOOD PARAMETERS"

Abstract

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact that different types of thyroid function problems have on a variety of haematological markers.

Material and Methods

This prospective observational study was “conducted at Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, a tertiary care center in Chennai”, India, over a one-year period from June 2023 to June 2024. The study included a total of 100 patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism and 50 normal patients, aged 18 years and above, irrespective of gender. The inclusion criteria were as follows: newly diagnosed cases of primary hypothyroidism, patients on thyroid hormone replacement therapy for less than six months, and those willing to provide written informed consent. Exclusion criteria included patients with a history of any other endocrine disorders, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, hematological disorders, malignancies, and those on medications known to affect hematological parameters.

Results

The average age of participants in the euthyroid group was 41.70 years with a standard deviation of 15.76 years, while the average age in the hypothyroid group was 38.90 years with a standard deviation of 14.01 years. The euthyroid group comprised 29 females (58%) and 21 males (42%), whereas the hypothyroid group included 82 females (82%) and 18 males (18%). The difference in gender distribution between the two groups was statistically significant, with a p-value of 0.002. Hypothyroid patients exhibited lower levels of hemoglobin, RBC count, PCV, MCV, MCH, and higher RDW compared to euthyroid individuals, indicating a positive correlation between these hematological parameters and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.

Conclusion

This study highlights significant differences in hematological parameters between hypothyroid and euthyroid individuals, demonstrating the impact of thyroid dysfunction on blood indices.