Prevalence of hypothyroidism in type 2 diabetic female Kurdish subjects

Background: The incidence of thyroid disorders is more prevalent in type 1 diabetes compared to type 2 diabetes, due to associated autoimmune disorders. Physiological and biochemical interconnection between type 1 diabetes mellitus and autoimmune thyroid disease is now stimulating subject of study. Objectives: The objective was to assess the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among type 2 diabetic Kurdish females and to explore the correlation between metabolic syndrome components and autoimmune thyroid abnormality. Materials and Methods: The study included 60 type 2 diabetic Kurdish females and 30 sex- and age-matched controls. All patients in the study were exposed to anthropometric characteristics, including HbA1c, lipid profile, serum uric acid, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO), and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg). Results: Primary hypothyroidism was found in 24 (40%) diabetic patients (5.67 ± 3.35 μIU/mL) versus three (10%) controls (1.76 ± 1.19 μIU/mL) (P < 0.001). Anti-TPO was found in 66.7% (367.21 ± 234.53) of diabetic patients versus 10% (31.78 ± 32.14) of controls (P > 0.001). Anti-Tg was found in 60% (499.98 ± 358.14) of diabetic patients versus 0 (53.27 ± 36.23) controls (P > 0.001). A significant positive relationship was estimated between both TPO antibodies and Tg antibodies and TSH (P = 0.05 and P = 0.001, respectively) in diabetic patients. Conclusion: Autoimmune thyroid disorder is more prevalent in Kurdish women with type 2 diabetes than nondiabetic women, and thus points to a role of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.