RESEARCH ON CLINICAL GUIDELINES DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION AND TREATMENT STRATEGIES IN HYPOTHYROIDISM

Background: Hypothyroidism is a relatively common condition in which the thyroid gland fails to produce sufficient hormones.These hormones are significant because they assist in controlling factors such as energy levels, metabolism, and body temperature.Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic approaches, treatment strategies, and guideline adherence in the management of hypothyroidism among hospitalized patients.Methods: An ambi-directional observational study was conducted on 251 adult inpatients diagnosed with hypothyroidism.Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, including demographic details, clinical presentation, comorbidities, thyroid profile, class of hypothyroidism, imaging, treatment regimen (with levothyroxine), Billewicz scoring, and follow-up monitoring.Inclusion and exclusion criteria were strictly followed to ensure relevance and accuracy.Results: Out of 251 patients, 80.9% were female, with the majority (55.8%) aged between 50-69 years.Primary hypothyroidism was the most common class (91%), and 91.26% of patients showed elevated TSH and low T4 levels.Common symptoms included constipation, dry skin, and weight gain, as assessed by Billewicz scoring.The most frequently prescribed current levothyroxine doses were 75 mcg and 50 mcg (each in 27.5% of patients).While 31.9% were newly diagnosed, others had prior treatment, with 25 mcg being the most common past dose.A majority (70.91%) were treated according to ATA guidelines.Co-morbidities included hypertension (38.1%) and type 2 diabetes (28.13%). Conclusion:The study highlights a strong female predominance and midlife onset in