Thyroid Dysfunction in Male Patients at Asia Med Laboratory, Herat, Afghanistan July 2021–Jan 2022

Objective

Hyper- and hypothyroidism related to iodine deficiency are major public health concerns in Afghanistan.

This study aimed to assess the frequency of thyroid dysfunction among male patients referred for thyroid testing and its association with age, and to examine monthly trends in thyroid dysfunction at Asia Med Laboratory in Herat, Afghanistan, from July 2021 to January 2022.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 250 male patients aged 0–69 years. We measured Serum TSH, total T4, and total T3 levels, and thyroid status was classified using age-specific reference ranges. In addition, the frequency of thyroid dysfunction was analyzed across age groups with monthly trends of thyroid state.

Results

Overall, the euthyroid state consisted of 69.2% of participants, 24.8% with overt hypothyroidism, 3.2% with overt hyperthyroidism, and 2.8% with subclinical hyperthyroidism. Thyroid status differed significantly by age (p = 0.0135), with hypothyroidism increasing in older age groups and reaching its highest proportion among men aged 60–69 years (55.6%). Euthyroidism predominated in patients aged 10-39 years, while hyperthyroidism across age groups remained relatively infrequent. After September 2021, a threefold increase was observed in the total number of male patients referred for thyroid testing. During this period, the proportion of hyperthyroidism increased slightly, whereas hypothyroidism cases declined.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hypothyroidism was more frequent with older age. The rise in absolute case numbers after September 2021 likely reflects increased patient referrals, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring of thyroid function. The study may assist in the early management of thyroid disorders and in reducing their complications.

Main Points

• The study included 250 male participants aged 0–69 years, with the largest proportion in the 30–39 age group (26.4%).

• Overall, 69.2% of participants had normal thyroid function, while 6% had hyperthyroidism and 24.8% had hypothyroidism.

• Subclinical hyperthyroidism (suppressed TSH with normal T3 and T4) was identified in 2.8% of patients with abnormal TSH.

• Age was a significant predictor of thyroid dysfunction (p = 0.0135), with hypothyroidism increasing in older age groups (50–69 years) and hyperthyroidism remaining rare across all ages.

• Laboratory testing trends between July 2021 and January 2022 showed an increase in male patient testing after September 2021; hypothyroidism rates declined, hyperthyroidism rates rose slightly, and most patients remained euthyroid.