The effects of pathophysiological changes in Type-2 diabetic patients on thyroid dysfunction and nodular goiter development in Turkey

Objective: The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction is higher in patients with diabetes, and its diagnosis could cause better diabetes management. The purpose of the present study is to examine the impact of pathophysiological changes in patients with Type-2 diabetes on the frequency of thyroid dysfunction, thyroid autoimmunity, thyroid nodule, and thyroid cancer in Turkey. Methods: The study was conducted on a total of 3.276 patients with Type-2 diabetes who underwent thyroid tests and thyroid ultrasonography (US). The demographic characteristics, biochemical and hormonal values, thyroid US reports, and histopathology reports were collected from the patient's electronic records. Results: Thyroid autoimmunity positive TPOab 15.9% (n = 524) and/or positive TGab 9.9% (n = 327), the rate of positivity of both antibodies (TPOab + TGab) in the same patient, and total thyroid autoimmunity was found to be 32.57% (n=1067) in Type-2 diabetic patients. Thyroid dysfunction was detected in 18.3% (n = 602) of these patients. The distribution of thyroid dysfunction was 9.09% (n = 298) subclinical hypothyroidism, 4.1% (n = 135) clinical hypothyroidism, 3.1% (n = 102) subclinical hyperthyroidism, 2.0% (n = 67) clinical hyperthyroidism. Also, 67.9% (n = 2225) thyroid nodules, and 5% (n = 164) thyroid cancer were detected. Conclusion: Thyroid dysfunction was found to have increased in patients with Type-2 diabetes at significant levels.