Hypothyroidism in Conakry: Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects

Hypothyroidism is a frequent endocrine disorder that can occur at any age and predominantly affects women. The etiologies are diverse and may vary according to the geographical and socio-demographic context. The objective of our work was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of hypothyroidism in Conakry, Guinea. Materials and Method: This was a descriptive study with prospective data collection, over the period from December 2016 to May 2021. It focused on patients seen at the endocrinology consultation of Conakry University Hospital. Epidemiological, clinical, etiological, therapeutic, and evolutionary variables of patients diagnosed or followed-up for hypothyroidism were collected and analyzed. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism was defined by elevated TSH and/or decreased FT4/FT3. Results: Out of a total of 290 patients who consulted for thyroid pathology, hypothyroidism concerned 49 patients, i.e. , a frequency of 14%. Women were the most affected with a sex ratio of 0.13. The mean age of patients was 48.65 ± 19.93 years with extremes of 2 years and 80 years. Hypo-metabolic syndrome was the main clinical sign and was manifested mainly by constipation found in 48.89% of cases. TSH was elevated in all cases with a mean level of 24.56 ± 14.17 mIU/ml. Hypertension was the most frequently associated pathology (57%). Three etiological groups of hypothyroidisms were found. These were thyroidectomy in 42.85% of cases, thyroiditis in 34.69% of cases and post synthetic antithyroid hypothyroidism. All patients were treated with L-thyroxin, with a favorable clinical course. Follow-up was regular in 16 patients (32.65%). Conclusion: Hypothyroidism is common in this population, and primarily affects women. Thyroid surgery was the main cause of hypothyroidism in this work.