Thyroid dysfunction in Central Nepal: insights from a multidisciplinary tertiary care hospital

Thyroid hormone abnormalities are among the most common endocrine dysfunctions in the Nepalese population. Iodine is essential for normal thyroid function, and both iodine deficiency and excess can lead to thyroid dysfunction. Geographic and environmental factors may influence the incidence of thyroid dysfunction. This study aimed to determine the pattern of thyroid dysfunction in patients attending a multidisciplinary tertiary care hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry at KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital among patients attending the endocrinology department from April 2021 to April 2024. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee of the KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital (reference number: 2079/80/31). Sociodemographic data and thyroid function test results were collected from the electronic medical records of all the participants. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Services version 17.0. Among 13,115 individuals, 2512 (19.16%) had thyroid dysfunction, with a higher prevalence in women (1888 cases, 14.40%). Of the 2512 (19.16%) patients with thyroid dysfunction, nearly three-fourths, 1824 (13.91%) had subclinical hypothyroidism, 409 (3.12%) had subclinical hyperthyroidism, 149 (1.14%) had hyperthyroidism, and 130 (0.99%) had hypothyroidism. Subclinical hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid dysfunction is three times more prevalent in women than in men (3:1 ratio). These findings highlight the importance of routine thyroid function screening, especially among women and adults aged 18–59, for early detection, for preventing disease progression, reducing long-term complications, and ensuring timely management.