Quality of Life of Pregnant Patients in Iraq Undergoing Thyroidectomy

The present study has been designed to assess the outcomes and quality of life (QOL) of Iraqi pregnant women in comparison to a control group. The study population is comprised of 200 patients, which is further divided into two groups: 120 pregnant women and 80 non-pregnant women. A cross-sectional study was conducted in several hospitals in Iraq, utilising data from 2022. The study period extended from 2022 to 2024. The quality of life of patients was assessed using a questionnaire to ascertain their general health characteristics before and after surgery. The SF-36 questionnaire was administered to measure thyroiditis, and a questionnaire was used to measure anxiety and depression. Sociodemographic variables were also considered. The study found no statistically significant differences in demographic characteristics and general data of Iraqi patients according to age, obesity, and comorbidities. However, the results related to the quality of life of patients are noteworthy. It was observed that fatigue in the group of pregnant women after thyroidectomy poses a significant challenge that is not readily addressed, and this factor has a substantial impact on the quality of life of the patient post-surgery. If this problem is not effectively addressed, the patient's recovery ability and the effectiveness of the recovery process are likely to be compromised. The findings of our current study, both domestically and internationally, suggest a substantial impact of pregnancy on the quality-of-life post-thyroidectomy, accompanied by notable variations in the recovery period and recurrence rate among patients (P < 0.001). It is evident that pregnant patients experience a diminished quality of life. The underlying reasons for this phenomenon may be attributable to the fact that patients undergo more severe functional impairment after surgery, experience heightened pain, and undergo more pronounced physical changes, which can lead to increased exposure to stress, depression, and pessimism, thereby affecting their postoperative recovery