Correcting iron deficiency anemia among women with hypothyroidism; a quality-of-life perspective

Sadia Akbar; Safian Ahmed; Masood Ahmed Memon; Khalida Avesi; Muhammad Muneeb; Khalil Ahmed Kazi

doi:10.29052/2413-4252.v7.i1.2021.1-5

Authors

Sadia Akbar Dept. of Hematology (Pathology), Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro-Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2376-6829
Safian Ahmed Department of Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro-Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9339-7179
Masood Ahmed Memon Department. of Community Medicine, Indus Medical College, University of Modern Sciences, T.M.K-Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1202-6075
Khalida Avesi Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Civil Hospital, Hyderabad https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7334-1197
Muhammad Muneeb Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Civil Hospital, Hyderabad-Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0696-4770
Khalil Ahmed Kazi Department of Medical Education, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro-Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7673-7135

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29052/2413-4252.v7.i1.2021.1-5

Keywords:

Iron Deficiency Anemia, Hypothyroidism, Quality of Life, Women’s Health, Thyroid-Dependent Quality of Life Questionnaire (ThyDQoL).

Abstract

Background: Hypothyroidism is a disease characterized by the thyroid gland's compromised ability to produce the thyroid hormone. The condition is often accompanied by Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA). Together the two have a significant impact on the quality of life (QoL). To gauge the effect of correcting iron deficiency anemia among women with clinical hypothyroidism, improving the quality of life.

Methodology: A total of 140 women pre-diagnosed with hypothyroidism and IDA were included in this experimental study and were presented to the medical outpatient department at Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad. All-female participants were recruited via non-probability – consecutive sampling and were included after taking written informed consent and administered corrective treatment (Iron salts). Data was recorded onto a pre-structured questionnaire containing inquiries about basic biodata, sociodemographic details, disease history, present clinical condition, laboratory findings and QoL using Thyroid-Dependent Quality of Life Questionnaire (ThyDQoL), and was analyzed using SPSS version 21.0.

Results: The mean age of participants included in the study was 29 ± 03 years (range 21 to 43). The mean serum ferritin level was 33 ± 03 ng/mL, while the total mean Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) was 514 mcg/dL. In 92.1% of the patients, the normalized post-4-week treatment of the Underactive ThyDQoL score suggests improvement from a negative 7 to a negative 3 (cumulative mean value) of the sample.

Conclusion: The study results concluded that correcting anemia helps improve the QoL among patients with hypothyroidism. Since the remedy to anemia is achieved earlier than hypothyroidism management in most cases, it is recommended that the efforts are directed to screen and correct anemia (iron deficiency) among such patients.