Early Detection Of Subclinical Hypothyroidism In Pregnant Women: Maternal And Fetal Outcomes

Abstract

Background:
Pregnant individuals frequently experience undetected subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) because its symptoms are not easily recognizable. Recent study connects SCH with harmful conditions that occur both for mothers during pregnancy and their newborns. Early pregnancy routine thyroid testing aids in SCH detection which leads to better management thus improving pregnancy health results.

Objectives:
to evaluation of subclinical hypothyroidism early diagnostic approach alongside treatment intervention measures on maternal complications together with fatal outcomes in pregnant women having their first trimester of pregnancy.

Study design: A prospective study.

Place and duration of study: Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology Lady reading hospital,  Peshawar from Sep 2023 to March 2024

Methods:
A prospective observational study took place Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology Lady reading hospital,  Peshawar from Sep 2023 to March 2024. A screening of thyroid function took place among two hundred pregnant women during their first trimester. Medical professionals classified pregnant women with elevated TSH levels plus normal FT4 results as SCH patients then began treating them with levothyroxine (Group A included 100 women). The study included 100 euthyroid women as controls through Group B. The study conducted their outcome analysis through SPSS version 24.0.

Results:
70 participants with SCH patients totalling 43 while the remaining 27 had normal thyroid function. Subjects involved in the study maintained an average age of 27.4 ± 4.8 years. The group of SCH patients who received treatment demonstrated substantially lower negative pregnancy results than individuals who did not receive treatment. The onset rates for pre-eclampsia were observed at 10% for subjects with SCH compared to 4% in controls (p=0.042) and preterm delivery implications affected 12% of SCH patients versus 5% in controls (p=0.031) and low birth weight occurred in 15% of SCH patients whereas controls had 6% (p=0.025). Professional early levothyroxine therapy improved maternal health parameters as well as neonatal health indicators which indicates the need for early medical screening.

Conclusion:
If subclinical hypothyroidism obtains early diagnosis along with proper treatment during pregnancy it decreases the potential of complications including pre-eclampsia combined with preterm delivery and low birth weight. The detection of thyroid problems during the first trimester requires immediate action for superior medical results in mothers and their unborn children. Study suggest conducting extensive studies to create standard screening procedures for subclinical hypothyroidism diagnosis in pregnant populations.