Comparison of Frequency and Types of Anemia in Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Euthyroidism

Abstract

Objective: To compare the frequency and types of anemia in subclinical hypothyroid and euthyroid patients.

Study Design: Comparative cross sectional study.

Place and Duration: Department of Medicine, PNS Shifa, Karachi Pakistan, from Jun 2019 to Dec 2019.

Methodology: All patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and visited Medicine Department, PNS Shifa Karachi were included in the study. After ethical approval and informed written consent patients were divided into two groups, subclinical hypothyroidism group (149 patients) and euthyroid group (148 patients). Blood samples of all included patients were sent for hematocrit, mean cell volume and hemoglobin level to assess the outcome i-e anemia & its different types.

Results: A total of 297 patients were included in the study. Amongst the sub clinically hypothyroid patients, anemia wasnoted in 40 patients (26.9%), while in the euthyroid group, it was noted in 23 patients (15.5%). In the subclinical hypothyroidism group, the type of anemia was microcytic in 13 patients (8.7%), macrocytic in 7 patients (4.7%) and normocytic in 20 patients (13.4%); while in the euthyroid group, anemia was microcytic in 7 patients (4.7%), macrocytic in 4patients (2.7%) and normocytic in 12 patients (8.1%).

Conclusion: The commonest type of anemia found in sub clinically hypothyroid patients is normocytic normochromic anemia.The frequency of anemia was 26.9% in the subclinical hypothyroid group and 15.5% in the euthyroid group.