Abbott India announced the national results from a study assessing the prevalence of hypothyroidism in India that was published in the July 2013 issue of the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism.
The Thyroid Epidemiological Study team was led by Dr AG Unnikrishnan, Principal Investigator of the study and CEO and Endocrinologist, Chellaram Diabetes Institute, Pune and other researchers. This study initiated by Abbott is reportedly India’s first cross-sectional and multi-city study to quantify prevalence of thyroid dysfunctions in the post iodisation phase in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Kolkata.
Key results from the study:
- Hypothyroidism is highly prevalent amongst the surveyed population with one out of ten people being diagnosed with the condition. Hypothyroidism was found to be a common form of thyroid dysfunction affecting 10.95 per cent of the study population. The older population (above the age of 35 years) seemed to be at higher risk of hypothyroidism than the younger population (13.11 per cent vs. 7.53 per cent).
- Women were three times more likely to be affected by hypothyroidism than men (15.86 per cent vs. 5.02 per cent), especially those in midlife (46-54 years).
- Almost one-third of the hypothyroid patients (3.47 per cent) were not aware of the condition and were diagnosed for the first time during the course of study-related screening.
- Hypertension (20.4 per cent) and diabetes mellitus (16.2 per cent) were the other common diseases observed in the study population.
- Inland cities (Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad) had higher prevalence of hypothyroidism (11.73 per cent) compared to coastal cities (Chennai, Goa, Mumbai) (9.45 per cent). Kolkata recorded the highest prevalence of hypothyroidism (21.67 per cent).
- Approximately one-fifth of the study population had anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies [TPO] positivity, an established autoimmune marker pointing toward a steady risk of thyroid disorders.
“Thyroid disorders in India are characterised by a high prevalence, minimal diagnosis, poor awareness and low involvement of doctors in treatment. There is a growing urgency to create awareness of thyroid disorders, the need for early and regular diagnosis and the importance of following a recommended treatment regime,” said Dr AG Unnikrishnan, Principal Investigator of the study and CEO and Endocrinologist, Chellaram Diabetes Institute, Pune. “The study findings call for a review of current practices in the management of thyroid disorders. There should be an emphasis on active screening of endocrine function among patients at greater risk along with regular monitoring of thyroid status and dose adjustments to provide effective therapy in patients with established diagnosis,” he added.
EP News Bureau – Mumbai