Study of Hypothyroidism with Special Reference to Cardiovascular Manifestations in Upper Assam

The present study was a hospital based observational study which was conducted during the period of one year from July 2012 to June 2013 in Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh with the aim to study the clinical profile of Hypothyroidism with special reference to cardiovascular manifestations in all the patients attending outdoor and/or admitted in the different units of Medicine Department. After considering inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 79 cases were enrolled in the present study. Majority of cases of hypothyroidism were in the age group of 41-50 years (34.18%) followed by the age group of 31-40 years (22.78%). Majority of the patients were female (74.68%). The most common symptoms of hypothyroidism in the patients were fatigue (59.49%), followed by lethargy (55.70%). The most common sign of hypothyroidism was pallor (50.63%). Majority of the patients (68.35%) had cardiovascular manifestations documented by clinical signs and investigations. The most common cardiovascular symptom was effort intolerance (35.44%). The most common ECG abnormality was sinus bradycardia (25.32%) and the most common echocardiographic abnormality was LV diastolic dysfunction (34.18%). There was a positive correlation between serum TSH level and the number of symptoms of hypothyroidism as well as cardiovascular symptoms. Linear regression analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between serum TSH level and lipid profile. So far our knowledge goes this study was the first one of its kind in Upper Assam of North East India having characteristic ethnic population.