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Endocrine Abstracts (2014) 35 P1014 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.35.P1014

1Zemun Clinical Hospital, Zemun, Serbia; 2Institute Vinca, Belgrade, Serbia; 3Railway Workers Heath Centre, Belgrade, Serbia.


Quality of life (QoL) of hypothyroid patients can be estimated by use of numerous instruments (GHQ12 and TQ20). By rank transformation of obtained answers, calculated QoL score further determined groups, named as no distress (0–15 patients.), minor distress (16–24 patients.) and major distress (≥25 patients.). Rank transformation can be performed through Likert 0–3 as well modified 0–4 model. To groups with distress, levo-thyroxine (L-T4) therapy is usually recommended. The aim of study was to calculate different QoL scores and to estimate its effect on distress-grouping.

Methods: Case-control study consisted of 90 patients, divided into three equal groups of 30 participants: treatment-naïve hypothyroid (TSH>10 mIU/ml), euthyroid under (L-T4 substitution and control, euthyroid. TQ20 and GHQ12 were assigned to every study participant. Obtained answers were rank transformed according to mentioned models. Statistical analysis (χ2, one-way ANOVA, and Kruskal–Wallis) was performed by use of SPSS 18.0.

Results: Mean score of TQ20m, TQ20s, GHQm and GHQs was 14±7, 13±6, 11±7, and 11±6 respectively and differed between groups. Only one participant in the ‘euthyroid’ study subpopulation (control+(L-T4-induced euthyroidism) has had major distress both questionnaire scores, while scores of all others belonged to no distress group. Mean TQ20m, TQ20s, GHQm and GHQs scores were 21±7, 20±5, 18±6, and 16±5 respectively in the hypothyroid treatment-naïve group and differed in-between group. Minor and major distress TQ20m/TQ20s and GHQm/GHQs scores were registered in 26 (86.7%) and 18 (60%) patients.

Conclusion: Despite subtle differences in absolute values, the scores statistically differed. The values are stressed especially in the treatment naïve hypothyroid group. Highly given scores with modified model, cluster the patients into distress groups and makes the clinician’s decision easier regarding (L-T4 treatment initiation in hypothyroid patients, especially subclinical ones.

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