Clinical and Social Concerns in Treated Patients with Primary Hypothyroidism in Basrah: A Cross Sectional Study

Haider Ayad Alidrisi; Alaa Khattar Musa; Abbas Ali Mansour

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17

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Clinical and Social Concerns in Treated Patients with Primary Hypothyroidism in Basrah: A Cross Sectional Study

Haider Ayad Alidrisi, Alaa Khattar Musa, Abbas Ali Mansour

Published in American Journal of Internal Medicine (Volume 3, Issue 6)

Received: 21 October 2015 Accepted: 2 November 2015 Published: 30 December 2015

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Abstract

Background: Despite available treatment for hypothyroidism, L-thyroxine replacement therapy in a biochemically appropriate dose does not necessarily relieve patients' symptoms and complaints. The aim of the study was to evaluate the concerns of patients treated with hypothyroidism and to correlate these concerns with different patient characteristics and thyroid biochemical control. Subjects and Methods: one hundred eighteen treated primary hypothyroid patients attending Al-Faiha Specialized Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolism Center (FDEMC) in Al-Basrah were entering a questionnaire designed to capture personal, anthropometric, biochemical and clinical data. Twenty-four concerns were questioned to the patients who score these concerns on a 4 point Likert scale. Results: The most scored patients' concerns were fatigue, neuropathic pain, lack of weight loss, cold intolerance, breathing problems, and swallowing problems. No statistically significant relations were existed between these concerns and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) control, except for a high TSH group which were highly likely to have concerns of feeling sick (OR: 0.27, 95%CI 0.54 to 2.0, p=0.001), neuropathic pain (OR: 0.4, 95%CI 0.17 to 1.6, p=0. 01), cold intolerance (OR: 0.35, 95%CI 0. 0.3 to 1.7, p=0.005), and hair problems (OR: 0.26, 95%CI 0.6 to 2.1, P<0.0001). A significant correlation existed between duration of the hypothyroidism and patients' concerns of swelling of the hands and feet (R=0.7 P<0.0001), memory problems (R=0.4 P<0.0001), hearing disturbance (R=0. 38 P<0.0001), and hair problems (R=0. 3 P=0.001). Age significantly affects patients' concerns of memory problems (R=0. 6 P<0.0001), swelling of the hands and feet (R=0.4 P<0.0001), and hearing disturbance (R=0.37 P<0.0001). Positive correlation was present between low density lipoprotein cholesterol level and patients' concerns of cold intolerance (R=0.3 P=0.001), hair problems (R=0. 28 P=0.003), feeling sick (R=0. 2 P=0. 02), and neuropathic pain (R=0.18 P=0.04). The total cholesterol level also showed a positive correlation with patients' concerns of cold intolerance (R=0.3 P=0.001), hair problems (R=0. 25 P=0.01), neuropathic pain (R=0. 22 P=0. 01), and fatigue (R=0. 2 P=0.04). Conclusion: We cannot rely on the TSH level alone as a marker of optimal treatment outcome in patients with primary hypothyroidism because it does not reflect the concern status of the patients.

Published in	American Journal of Internal Medicine (Volume 3, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17
Page(s)	256-263
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Hypothyroidism, Patients' Concerns, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

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APA Style

Haider Ayad Alidrisi, Alaa Khattar Musa, Abbas Ali Mansour. (2015). Clinical and Social Concerns in Treated Patients with Primary Hypothyroidism in Basrah: A Cross Sectional Study. American Journal of Internal Medicine, 3(6), 256-263. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17

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ACS Style

Haider Ayad Alidrisi; Alaa Khattar Musa; Abbas Ali Mansour. Clinical and Social Concerns in Treated Patients with Primary Hypothyroidism in Basrah: A Cross Sectional Study. Am. J. Intern. Med. 2015, 3(6), 256-263. doi: 10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17

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AMA Style

Haider Ayad Alidrisi, Alaa Khattar Musa, Abbas Ali Mansour. Clinical and Social Concerns in Treated Patients with Primary Hypothyroidism in Basrah: A Cross Sectional Study. Am J Intern Med. 2015;3(6):256-263. doi: 10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17

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@article{10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17,
  author = {Haider Ayad Alidrisi and Alaa Khattar Musa and Abbas Ali Mansour},
  title = {Clinical and Social Concerns in Treated Patients with Primary Hypothyroidism in Basrah: A Cross Sectional Study},
  journal = {American Journal of Internal Medicine},
  volume = {3},
  number = {6},
  pages = {256-263},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajim.20150306.17},
  abstract = {Background: Despite available treatment for hypothyroidism, L-thyroxine replacement therapy in a biochemically appropriate dose does not necessarily relieve patients' symptoms and complaints. The aim of the study was to evaluate the concerns of patients treated with hypothyroidism and to correlate these concerns with different patient characteristics and thyroid biochemical control. Subjects and Methods: one hundred eighteen treated primary hypothyroid patients attending Al-Faiha Specialized Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolism Center (FDEMC) in Al-Basrah were entering a questionnaire designed to capture personal, anthropometric, biochemical and clinical data. Twenty-four concerns were questioned to the patients who score these concerns on a 4 point Likert scale. Results: The most scored patients' concerns were fatigue, neuropathic pain, lack of weight loss, cold intolerance, breathing problems, and swallowing problems. No statistically significant relations were existed between these concerns and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) control, except for a high TSH group which were highly likely to have concerns of feeling sick (OR: 0.27, 95%CI 0.54 to 2.0, p=0.001), neuropathic pain (OR: 0.4, 95%CI 0.17 to 1.6, p=0. 01), cold intolerance (OR: 0.35, 95%CI 0. 0.3 to 1.7, p=0.005), and hair problems (OR: 0.26, 95%CI 0.6 to 2.1, PConclusion: We cannot rely on the TSH level alone as a marker of optimal treatment outcome in patients with primary hypothyroidism because it does not reflect the concern status of the patients.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Clinical and Social Concerns in Treated Patients with Primary Hypothyroidism in Basrah: A Cross Sectional Study
AU  - Haider Ayad Alidrisi
AU  - Alaa Khattar Musa
AU  - Abbas Ali Mansour
Y1  - 2015/12/30
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17
T2  - American Journal of Internal Medicine
JF  - American Journal of Internal Medicine
JO  - American Journal of Internal Medicine
SP  - 256
EP  - 263
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-4324
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17
AB  - Background: Despite available treatment for hypothyroidism, L-thyroxine replacement therapy in a biochemically appropriate dose does not necessarily relieve patients' symptoms and complaints. The aim of the study was to evaluate the concerns of patients treated with hypothyroidism and to correlate these concerns with different patient characteristics and thyroid biochemical control. Subjects and Methods: one hundred eighteen treated primary hypothyroid patients attending Al-Faiha Specialized Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolism Center (FDEMC) in Al-Basrah were entering a questionnaire designed to capture personal, anthropometric, biochemical and clinical data. Twenty-four concerns were questioned to the patients who score these concerns on a 4 point Likert scale. Results: The most scored patients' concerns were fatigue, neuropathic pain, lack of weight loss, cold intolerance, breathing problems, and swallowing problems. No statistically significant relations were existed between these concerns and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) control, except for a high TSH group which were highly likely to have concerns of feeling sick (OR: 0.27, 95%CI 0.54 to 2.0, p=0.001), neuropathic pain (OR: 0.4, 95%CI 0.17 to 1.6, p=0. 01), cold intolerance (OR: 0.35, 95%CI 0. 0.3 to 1.7, p=0.005), and hair problems (OR: 0.26, 95%CI 0.6 to 2.1, PConclusion: We cannot rely on the TSH level alone as a marker of optimal treatment outcome in patients with primary hypothyroidism because it does not reflect the concern status of the patients.
VL  - 3
IS  - 6
ER  -

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Author Information

Haider Ayad Alidrisi

Al-Faiha Specialized Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolism Center (FDEMC), Basrah College of Medicine, Basrah, Iraq
Alaa Khattar Musa

Department of Medicine, Basrah College of Medicine, Basrah, Iraq
Abbas Ali Mansour

Al-Faiha Specialized Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolism Center (FDEMC), Basrah College of Medicine, Basrah, Iraq

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APA Style

Haider Ayad Alidrisi, Alaa Khattar Musa, Abbas Ali Mansour. (2015). Clinical and Social Concerns in Treated Patients with Primary Hypothyroidism in Basrah: A Cross Sectional Study. American Journal of Internal Medicine, 3(6), 256-263. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17

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ACS Style

Haider Ayad Alidrisi; Alaa Khattar Musa; Abbas Ali Mansour. Clinical and Social Concerns in Treated Patients with Primary Hypothyroidism in Basrah: A Cross Sectional Study. Am. J. Intern. Med. 2015, 3(6), 256-263. doi: 10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17

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AMA Style

Haider Ayad Alidrisi, Alaa Khattar Musa, Abbas Ali Mansour. Clinical and Social Concerns in Treated Patients with Primary Hypothyroidism in Basrah: A Cross Sectional Study. Am J Intern Med. 2015;3(6):256-263. doi: 10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17

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@article{10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17,
  author = {Haider Ayad Alidrisi and Alaa Khattar Musa and Abbas Ali Mansour},
  title = {Clinical and Social Concerns in Treated Patients with Primary Hypothyroidism in Basrah: A Cross Sectional Study},
  journal = {American Journal of Internal Medicine},
  volume = {3},
  number = {6},
  pages = {256-263},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajim.20150306.17},
  abstract = {Background: Despite available treatment for hypothyroidism, L-thyroxine replacement therapy in a biochemically appropriate dose does not necessarily relieve patients' symptoms and complaints. The aim of the study was to evaluate the concerns of patients treated with hypothyroidism and to correlate these concerns with different patient characteristics and thyroid biochemical control. Subjects and Methods: one hundred eighteen treated primary hypothyroid patients attending Al-Faiha Specialized Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolism Center (FDEMC) in Al-Basrah were entering a questionnaire designed to capture personal, anthropometric, biochemical and clinical data. Twenty-four concerns were questioned to the patients who score these concerns on a 4 point Likert scale. Results: The most scored patients' concerns were fatigue, neuropathic pain, lack of weight loss, cold intolerance, breathing problems, and swallowing problems. No statistically significant relations were existed between these concerns and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) control, except for a high TSH group which were highly likely to have concerns of feeling sick (OR: 0.27, 95%CI 0.54 to 2.0, p=0.001), neuropathic pain (OR: 0.4, 95%CI 0.17 to 1.6, p=0. 01), cold intolerance (OR: 0.35, 95%CI 0. 0.3 to 1.7, p=0.005), and hair problems (OR: 0.26, 95%CI 0.6 to 2.1, PConclusion: We cannot rely on the TSH level alone as a marker of optimal treatment outcome in patients with primary hypothyroidism because it does not reflect the concern status of the patients.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Clinical and Social Concerns in Treated Patients with Primary Hypothyroidism in Basrah: A Cross Sectional Study
AU  - Haider Ayad Alidrisi
AU  - Alaa Khattar Musa
AU  - Abbas Ali Mansour
Y1  - 2015/12/30
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17
T2  - American Journal of Internal Medicine
JF  - American Journal of Internal Medicine
JO  - American Journal of Internal Medicine
SP  - 256
EP  - 263
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-4324
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20150306.17
AB  - Background: Despite available treatment for hypothyroidism, L-thyroxine replacement therapy in a biochemically appropriate dose does not necessarily relieve patients' symptoms and complaints. The aim of the study was to evaluate the concerns of patients treated with hypothyroidism and to correlate these concerns with different patient characteristics and thyroid biochemical control. Subjects and Methods: one hundred eighteen treated primary hypothyroid patients attending Al-Faiha Specialized Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolism Center (FDEMC) in Al-Basrah were entering a questionnaire designed to capture personal, anthropometric, biochemical and clinical data. Twenty-four concerns were questioned to the patients who score these concerns on a 4 point Likert scale. Results: The most scored patients' concerns were fatigue, neuropathic pain, lack of weight loss, cold intolerance, breathing problems, and swallowing problems. No statistically significant relations were existed between these concerns and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) control, except for a high TSH group which were highly likely to have concerns of feeling sick (OR: 0.27, 95%CI 0.54 to 2.0, p=0.001), neuropathic pain (OR: 0.4, 95%CI 0.17 to 1.6, p=0. 01), cold intolerance (OR: 0.35, 95%CI 0. 0.3 to 1.7, p=0.005), and hair problems (OR: 0.26, 95%CI 0.6 to 2.1, PConclusion: We cannot rely on the TSH level alone as a marker of optimal treatment outcome in patients with primary hypothyroidism because it does not reflect the concern status of the patients.
VL  - 3
IS  - 6
ER  -

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