Epidemiological analysis of hypothyroidism prevalence in Kharkiv region

Background. Hypothyroidism can be the cause of disorders of any organs and systems of the body. Therefore, the epidemiological analysis of hypothyroidism and the identification of the leading risk factors for its spread in Kharkiv region were the purpose of the work. Materials and methods. The incidence and prevalence of endocrine diseases, including hypothyroidism among the age and social groups, for 2004–2017 were analyzed on the basis of official data of the Kharkiv Regional Information and Analytical Center for Medical Statistics of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. The authors developed questionnaires for possible causes of hypothyroidism, which were divided into three groups: factors of the environment of life (group 1), lifestyle and physiological status (group 2), and pathological condition (group 3). The results of the questionnaire were evaluated using the Delphi method. Statistical processing of the material was carried out using parametric me­thods using the computer program OpenOffice. Results. There is an increase in the prevalence of endocrine diseases in the region. There is a strong direct correlation between the incidence rates of endocrine diseases, including related to thyroid gland, and indicators of the incidence of diseases of the circulatory system. The tendency to increase of the morbidity and prevalence of hypothyroidism with a pronounced growth rate (+8.5 %) was revealed. Among adults with hypothyroidism, the largest share was in the able­bodied population (56.1 %). Endocrinologists consider heredity and autoimmune thyroiditis to be the most significant causes of hypothyroidism. In addition, iodine deficiency, selenium deficiency, and drugs and substances with anti­thyroid effects can be considered as leading risk factors in group 1; in group 2 — pregnancy and heredity; in group 3 — a number of diseases associated with thyroid gland. Conclusions. A pronounced tendency to increase of the prevalence of hypothyroidism and identified the leading risk factors that are a problem in Kharkiv region (96.8 % of women appeared to have selenium deficiency) indicates a complication of the situation. Timely detection of diseases associated with the thyroid gland pathology, their treatment and preventive measures will reduce the incidence of hypothyroidism, which will positively impact the prevalence of other non­communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and deaths from them