Are females more prone to thyroid dysfunctions in metabolic syndrome – A retrospective cohort study

ABSTRACT Introduction: Metabolic syndrome or Insulin resistance syndrome is a multifactorial disorder associated with the development of cardiovascular, neurological, immunological, renal and endocrine disease. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a condition characterised by a group of metabolic abnormalities, with insulin resistance (IR) being a common cause. Our study aims to evaluate the need for thyroid dysfunction and the prevalence of MetS in males and females. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study with a total no of 100 enrolled patients of both genders who satisfied the inclusion criteria of the International Diabetes Federation of Metabolic Syndrome was randomly allocated to the study. The study was conducted between September 2019 and September 2022. The significance level was tested at p < 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and 80% power of the study. Results: The study subjects were between 18 and 60 years old, with 35% males and 65% females. The mean age of patients with metabolic syndrome was 41.5 ± 18.5. A conclusion was drawn using the ANOVA Brown-Forsythe test, with an F value of 536.7 and a p -value of < 0.0001. Thyroid function test revealed that 48 patients were Euthyroid, 30 patients were Hypothyroid, 8 patients were Subclinical Hypothyroid, 7 patients were subclinical hyperthyroid, and none were Hyperthyroid. Thyroid dysfunction is 52% prevalent in Metabolic syndrome patients. Among Thyroid dysfunction, hypothyroidism is 30%, Subclinical Hypothyroidism is highly prevalent at 8%, and subclinical Hyperthyroidism is at 7%. There were no Hyperthyroid patients in the study. To prove the statistical significance, a chi-square test was used with 1 degree of freedom, p < 0.0079. Conclusion: The results suggested that patients with metabolic syndrome have a significantly increased chance of thyroid dysfunction, and the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction is higher in female patients compared to males. Females may be more prone to thyroid dysfunction in metabolic syndrome.