Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in Patients with Hypovitaminosis D in Department of Biochemistry of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION

Autoimmune thyroid disease is characterised by the generation of autoantibodies against self-antigens such as thyroid peroxidase, thyroglobulin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor. Recent studies have implicated the role of hypovitaminosis D to immune dysfunction, failure of self-tolerance and generation of autoantibodies. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease among hypovitaminosis D patients in a tertiary care centre.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among participants between the ages of 18 years to 65 years who visited the Department of Biochemistry of a tertiary care centre between the periods of July 2018 to December 2019. The study was initiated after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 42,8/074/075-IRC). Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire followed by anthropometric measurement and blood collection. Thyroid hormone, thyroid peroxidase antibody and 25-hydroxy vitamin D were measured by chemiluminescence technique. Convenience sampling was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.

RESULTS

Among 83 patients, 39 (46.98%) (42.32-51.63, 95% Confidence Interval) had autoimmune thyroid disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease among patients with hypovitaminosis D was similar to studies conducted in comparable settings.

KEYWORDS: autoimmune diseases; prevalence; thyroid; vitamin D.