Hashimoto's Thyroiditis among Patients with Thyroid Disorders Visiting a Tertiary Care Centre.

INTRODUCTION: Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a chronic autoimmune lymphocytic thyroiditis characterised by thyroid autoantibodies. Early detection and treatment of this condition help in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with it. The aim of the study was to find out the prevalence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis among patients with thyroid disorders visiting a tertiary care centre.

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients visiting the outpatient department of a tertiary care centre. Data from 14 April 2017 to 13 April 2019 was collected between 30 June 2022 to 15 September 2022 from medical records. Ethical approval was obtained from the Nepal Health Research Council. Hashimoto's thyroiditis was diagnosed based on clinical presentation and positive antibodies to thyroid antigens. Convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval.

RESULTS: Among 813 patients with thyroid disorders, 393 (48.33%) (44.89-51.77, 95% Confidence Interval) had Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The manifestation of the spectrum of Hashimoto's thyroiditis were euthyroid in 215 (54.70%), subclinical hypothyroidism in 102 (25.95%), subclinical hyperthyroidism in 23 (5.85%), overt hyperthyroidism in 9 (2.30%) and overt hypothyroidism in 4 (1.02%).

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis among patients with thyroid disorders was higher than in other studies done in similar settings.

KEYWORDS: anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies; Hashimoto's thyroiditis; thyroid disorders.