Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Overweight /Obese Children in Pediatric Clinic of Tishreen University Hospital in Lattakia
Abstract
Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism is biochemically defined as an elevated serum thyrotropin level (TSH) in combination with a serum free T4 is within the reference range. Many patients with subclinical hypothyroidism are asymptomatic. Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity.
Aim: We aimed to examine the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism among healthy weight, overweight and obese children. Determine the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and BMI, age and sex.
Materials and Methods: This study is a cross sectional study conducted at Tishreen University Hospital, Lattakia, Syria during the period between May 2020 and May 2021. The study included 204 children (100 healthy weight, 19 overweight, 85 obese), aged 2-13 years. Weights and heights were measured and BMI calculated. Thyroid function tests TSH and free T4 (if TSH was elevated) were assessed in all subjects.
Results: The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism were (4% in healthy weight, 10.5% in overweight, 16.5% in obesity). Serum TSH level was significantly higher in (obese 3.40 mU\L) compared to (overweight 2.31 mU\L) and (healthy weight 2.10 mU\L) P-value = 0.0001, with no significant difference in serum FT4 levels between the groups (1.42 ng/dl in obese, 1.65 ng/dl in overweight, 1.70 ng/dl in healthy weight. P-value = 0.05). There was a positive correlation between BMI and TSH (as BMI increases, TSH levels increase) with a statistical difference (Pearson correlation r = 0.4, P-value = 0.04). There were no significant differences in demographic variables between the groups.
Conclusion: The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was higher among overweight/obese children. TSH levels were found to be higher in obese children with positive correlation between BMI and TSH. There was no significant difference in FT4 levels between the groups.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The authors retain the copyright and grant the right to publish in the magazine for the first time with the transfer of the commercial right to Tishreen University Journal for Research and Scientific Studies - Health Sciences Series
Under a CC BY- NC-SA 04 license that allows others to share the work with of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal. Authors can use a copy of their articles in their scientific activity, and on their scientific websites, provided that the place of publication is indicted in Tishreen University Journal for Research and Scientific Studies - Health Sciences Series . The Readers have the right to send, print and subscribe to the initial version of the article, and the title of Tishreen University Journal for Research and Scientific Studies - Health Sciences Series Publisher
journal uses a CC BY-NC-SA license which mean
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.