Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction during first trimester of pregnancy: A descriptive cross‐sectional study

Thyroid dysfunction carries large burden during pregnancy and untreated thyroid dysfunction is associated with poor maternal and foetal outcome. The exact burden of thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy in Nepal is not well established. This is descriptive cross‐sectional study done in tertiary care centre of Nepal to know burden of thyroid dysfunction and establish possible need of universal thyroid function screening during pregnancy.A descriptive cross‐sectional study was conducted from 4 September 2020 to 3 September 2021 on pregnant women attending to ANC clinic during their first trimester after obtaining ethical approval. Among eligible patients, after taking informed consent, a total of 385 pregnant women were included in the study. Thyroid function status was assessed by measuring serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and free tri‐iodothyronine (FT3). Women with pre‐existing thyroid disorders were excluded. Serum thyroid function was used to detect thyroid disorder based on American Thyroid Association 2011 criteria. A convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.Among 385 pregnant women, 152 (39.48%) (39.20–39.70, 95% CI) had thyroid disorders. Among thyroid disorders (n = 152), 111 (28.83%) had subclinical hypothyroidism, 37 (9.61%) overt hypothyroidism, 3 (0.78%) subclinical hyperthyroidism and 1 (0.26%) had overt hyperthyroidism.Around four in every 10 pregnant women had thyroid disorder. Thyroid dysfunction is easily detectable and can be effectively, inexpensively treated, which can prevent adverse maternal and foetal outcome. Thus, we should consider universal screening of pregnant women for thyroid disorder especially in a country like Nepal where there is a high prevalence of undiagnosed thyroid disorder.