PREVALENCE OF HYPOTHYROIDISM AMONG HIV PATIENTS IN A RURAL TERTIARY CARE CENTRE OF SOUTH INDIA

H. Poornima* and Deepak Thomas

ABSTRACT

Background: This study was conducted in the department of Medicine, in a rural tertiary care centre of South India to detect the prevalence of hypothyroidism in HIV patients and also to assess its association with duration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and CD4 levels. Methods: 150 patients attending a rural tertiary care hospital in South India who satisfied the inclusion criteria were taken as study subjects. Detailed history was taken and physical examination and necessary lab investigations were done as per a structured proforma. Results: The estimated prevalence of hypothyroidism is 5.3% and out of this 63.3% cases were with subclinical hypothyroidism. There was no correlation between gender and occurrence of hypothyroidism. There was a positive correlation between prevalence of hypothyroidism among HIV patients and low CD4 counts. There was no correlation between duration of ART and prevalence of hypothyroidism among HIV patients. Conclusion: Hypothyroidism is frequent in HIV patients. The observed prevalence of hypothyroidism in this study is less than that of North Indian studies and similar to Western studies. Subclinical hypothyroidism is the predominant hypothyroid condition observed in HIV patients. In this study, there was no significant correlation between gender and occurrence of hypothyroidism. Low CD4 count of value<200 has positive correlation with hypothyroidism. All individuals with CD4 count <200 should be screened for hypothyroidism. No correlation was established between duration of ART and hypothyroidism.

Keywords: HIV, Hypothyroidism, Subclinical hypothyroidism, CD4 Count, ART.