Prevalence of Subclinical Hyperthyroid Disease In Population of Central Nepal and Its Association With Age and Gender A Hospital-Based Study

Background: Subclinical hyperthyroidism is an increasingly recognized entity that is defined as normal serum free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine levels with thyroid-stimulating hormone level suppressed below the normal range and usually undetectable. Subclinical hyperthyroidism may be related only in part to Graves ' disease or multi nodular goitre. The burden of thyroid disease in the general population is enormous. Here, we critically study the prevalence of subclinical hyperthyroid disease in the population of Central Nepal. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out at National Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Birgunj, Nepal Anthropometric data were collected including thyroid function profile (free T3 and free T4). Results: Of the 680 patients in the study group, 165 were males and 515 were females, ranging from 21 to 60 years of age. Status of euthyroid, overt hyperthyroid, subclinical hyperthyroid, and low free T3 & T4 levels were seen in 70.74%, 12.65%, 10.44%, and 6.18 % respectively in cases. The prevalence of subclinical thyroid disease was found to be 10.44%, with 2.4 % in males and 8.04 % in females; and being more prevalent in age group 21-40 years age compared to other age groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of subclinical hypethyroidism amongst the suspected cases was 10.44 % which is much higher compared to the other parts of the world, with higher prevalence seen in females as compared to males. The reason(s) for such a high prevalence of hyperthyroidism in central Nepal needs to be studied further