Clinical Outcomes of Hypothyroidism during Pregnancy in Arar, Saudi Arabia

Hypothyroidism is a disorder characterized by reduced thyroid gland activity, which can manifest during pregnancy. If left untreated, maternal hypothyroidism may lead to impaired fetal growth, neuro-cognitive deficits, or congenital iodine deficiency syndrome due to inadequate thyroid hormone availability. This study aimed to identify the clinical outcomes of hypothyroidism in pregnant females. This crosssectional study included 53 female patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism who attended the outpatient clinics at Central Hospital and Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ad Hospital in Arar, Saudi Arabia, between January 2023 and June 2023. Blood samples were collected to assess thyroid hormone levels, lipid profile, hemoglobin, serum calcium, serum phosphate and vitamin D. The obtained laboratory parameters were analyzed for their correlation with thyroid hormone levels. Hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, hypovitaminosis D and elevated lipid levels (TAG, cholesterol and LDL-C) were observed in all the female subjects. The prevalence of anemia among the hypothyroid patients was 58.49%. The correlation analysis demonstrated a significant positive correlation of TSH with cholesterol (r=0.318, p=0.02) and LDL-C (r=0.346, p=0.011) and a significant negative correlation with hemoglobin (r=-0.273, p=0.047). FT4 was found to have a significant negative correlation with cholesterol (r=-0.348, p=0.01) and significant positive correlation with hemoglobin (r=0.282, p=0.04). The study found a high prevalence of hypothyroidism among pregnant women in Arar (mean age: 41.62 years). Common symptoms included fatigue, weight gain, constipation and abdominal pain along with edema, dry skin, pallor, bradycardia and anemia. Hypothyroidism was linked to dyslipidemia, with elevated total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides and reduced HDL-C, posing a risk for atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.