Kelvin M. Leshabari
H3 Research Unit of I Katch Technology Ltd. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Title: Neuroplasticity and Aging
Biography
Biography: Kelvin M. Leshabari
Abstract
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism among adult population aged > 65 years in a typical sub-urb of sub Saharan Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional screening was done at a private hospital clinic setting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from August 2018 to Feb 2019. Adult patients (age> 65 years) were the target population. Data collected included symptoms & signs at clinic presentation; date of birth; gender; thyroid function tests (i.e. serum-TSH, serum T3 and T4 levels); systolic & diastolic BP; glycaemia stata (both FBG & HBA1c levels); past & current medical history; drugs history; alcohol & smoking history as well as family & social history. For those who were found to have abnormal thyroid function tests values, a separate appointment for USS thyroid scan was booked and findings analysed.Continuous data were summarized using median (with inter quartile range) while categorical data were summarized using frequency (with proportions) Generalised linear model was used for main data analysis. SAS version 9.4 was used for analysis. Verbal informed consent was sought from each participant prior to screening session. Results: We managed to screen 311 different adult residents of Ubungo-Msewe area in Dar es Salaam. Median age was 64 (IQR: 55 – 73.4) years. Point prevalence of sub-clinical hypothyroidism was found to be 9.4%. Males with subclinical hypothyroidism were also found to have known co-morbidities (Diabetes mellitus: 38% vs. 11.3%; Isolated Systolic Hypertension: 66.9% vs. 24.1%; chronic heart failure: 10.5% vs. 1.2%) compared to females (all P< 0.01). None of the respondents with screen-positive results for subclinical hypothyroidism were on treatment at the time of screening. Females were more likely to return for further clinical evaluation post-screening. Conclusion: the burden of subclinical hypothyroidism is higher than expected in this study population. Screened participants with subclinical hypothyroidism were likely to have clinically significant co-morbidities. There appears to be a gender effect in response to screening results for subclinical hypothyroidism.