Hematological abnormalities and associated factors in patients with thyroid hormone dysfunction at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Northwest, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Abstract Background: Thyroid hormones have substantial role in metabolism and production of blood cells. Blood disorders are frequently seen in patients with thyroid hormone disorders because of its role in the proliferation and metabolism of blood cells. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine Hematological abnormalities and associated factors in patients with thyroid hormone dysfunction at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from March to May 2022. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2022 at the university Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 308 study participants were recruited using a consecutive sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain the socio-demographic data and patients’ logbooks were used for Clinical data. For complete blood cell count analysis, 3 mL of venous blood was collected by Potassium 2- Ethylenediamine Tetra acetic acid test tubes and analyzed by Beckman-coulter hematology analyzer. Epi data version 3.1 and Stata version 14 was used for date entry and analysis, respectively. Descriptive statistics were used to express socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and expressed in tables and texts. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to assess the associations between categorical variables. Binary and multiple logistic regressions were computed to identify factors associated with anemia. The Shapiro-Wilk and HosmerLemeshow test was used to test normality and model fitness respectively. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The overall magnitude of anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytosis, leukocytosis and polycythemia was 26.3%, 5.5%, 2.6%, 2.3 %, 2.3 % and 1.3 % respectively. From the total anemia 70.4% were normocytic normochromic anemia. Hypothyroidism (AOR= 2, 95% CI :1.0- 3.6), alcohol consumption (AOR= 4, 95% CI: 1.7- 9.2), meat consumption (AOR= 4, 95% CI: 1.6-10.4), vegetable consumption (AOR= 2.5, 95% CI :1.1- 5.5) and febrile illness (AOR =2.6, 95% CI :1.3-5.4) were found to be associated with anemia. Conclusion: Anemia was a moderate public health problem among thyroid dysfunction patients and it was the leading hematological abnormality followed by leukopenia. Hence thyroid hormones have predominant influence on erythropoiesis. Normocytic normochromic anemia were the most common types of anemia. Hypothyroidism, alcohol consumption, meat consumption, vegetable consumption and febrile illness were found to be associated with anemia. Thus, early diagnosis and monitoring strategies are required to minimize the complication due to hematological abnormalities