ResearcherID - CLICK HERE Scientific Journal Impact Factor (SJIF-2020) - CLICK HERE

STUDY TO DETERMINE THE DEFICIENCY AND FREQUENCY OF VITAMIN B12 IN HYPOTHYROID PATIENTS ATTENDING LADY READING HOSPITAL

Dr Shahab Falak, Dr Zia Ullah, Dr Muhammad Arshad

Background: There is controversial data regarding prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in hypothyroid patients. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in hypothyroid patients. Study design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration: The study was conducted at Medicine / Endocrinology department Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. Study was completed in 12 months from January to December 2019. Methodology: 225 hypothyroid patients from IPD & OPD with age range of 30-70 years of either sex willing to participate in study were included in study. Estimation of serum vitamin B12 was carried out. Cutoff value for vitamin B12 was taken <148 pmol/L. Results: 225 patients were included in our sampled population with mean age 47.15 ± 7.210 ranging from 40 to 66 years of age. 103 patients (45.8%) were female and rest of 122 (54.2%) were males. In our study 54 patients (24%) had Vitamin B12 Deficiency and rest of 171 (76%) showed negative results. Female gender, malnutrition, lower BMI and socioeconomic status were risk factors linked with vitamin B12 deficiency. While age was not among the risk factors. Conclusion: It is concluded that prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency is high 24% in Pakistani patients with hypothyroidism. Female patients with malnutrition and lower BMI should be screened periodically to reduce the complications associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. Keywords: Hypothyroidism, Vitamin B12 deficiency, Anemia, Pernicious Anemia, Cobalamin deficiency, Fatigue