Gender Pattern of Thyroid Dysfunction Among Patients with Beta-Thalassemia Intermedia: A Cross-Sectional Study from Yasuj, Iran

Although thyroid dysfunction (TD) is a known complication in patients with thalassemia major, data on patients with β thalassemia intermedia (βTI) are limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and gender pattern of TD in βTI in Yasuj city. In this cross-sectional analytical study, 200 eligible patients with βTI were selected by the census method. Serum levels of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 at a significance level of 0.05. Of the 200 patients, 90 (45%) were male, and 110 (55%) were female, with a mean age of 34.6 ± 11 years. The mean serum levels of T3, T4, and TSH were 1.74 ± 0.53 ng/ml, 7.99 ± 1.6 µg/dl, and 3.23 ± 1.83 µIU/ml, respectively. The overall prevalence of hypothyroidism was 6.0% (n = 12), comprising 5.5% (n = 11) subclinical and 0.5% (n = 1) primary hypothyroidism. A significant gender-based difference was observed in hormone levels: women exhibited higher mean T3 (1.81 vs. 1.66 ng/ml, p = 0.04) and T4 (8.25 vs. 7.7 µg/dl, p = 0.01) compared to men. However, no significant gender disparity was found in TSH levels. T3 and T4 hormone levels are higher in female patients with βTI compared to males. The presence of hypothyroid cases underscores the necessity for regular monitoring of thyroid function in these patients, particularly within the framework of iron overload management. Timely diagnosis and treatment can improve clinical outcomes.