Evaluation of Thyroid Ultrasound and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Obese Patients who applied to the Outpatient Clinic of Family Medicine

Objective: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate obesity in terms of its effect on thyroid function and morphology. Methods: We included 327 consecutive obese patients (mean age 41.0±11.6) who applied to the Department of Family Medicine Obesity and Check-up Polyclinic of Düzce University School of Medicine and had an ultrasound scan (USG) between the months January to July 2012. Cases were classified as patients with obesity (n=130), patients with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM) (n=27) and patients with Metabolic Syndrome (METS) (n=170). USG findings, as well as hematological, biochemical and hormonal parameters, were compared among these groups Results: When body mass index (BMI) values were compared between the groups, the highest results were found in DM group, and these results were statistically significant. In USG examinations of patients, 108 (29.2%) patients had nodules. There was no difference between the groups in terms nodule prevalence. When thyroid volumes were compared between the groups, the largest volumes were found in the DM group; however, this was statistically not significant. When thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were compared, the highest levels were in the obesity group; however, these results were again statistically insignificant. We observed that obese women and women with METS had higher TSH levels. Thyroid disorders were found less frequent in the DM group than the other groups, and these results were statistically significant. Conclusion: Although no significant difference was found between the groups in our study in terms of thyroid pathology, in the light of other studies, the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in diabetic patients and patients with METS is 2-3 times higher than the normal population. Therefore the measurement of TSH should be made for all obese patients.