Prevalence and Age-Sex Distribution of Thyroid-stimulating Hormone Abnormalities Among Hospital Outpatients in Jashore District, Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

<jats:p>Background: Thyroid disorders represent a substantial endocrine disease burden across South Asia, yet systematic epidemiological data from specific regions of Bangladesh remain scarce. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and demographic distribution of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) abnormalities among hospital outpatients in Jashore district, southeastern Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 consecutive outpatients presenting for thyroid evaluation at LabAid Hospital, Jashore, from October 2017 to December 2017. Serum TSH concentrations were measured, and participants were classified as euthyroid, hypothyroid, or hyperthyroid based on standard reference intervals, then stratified by sex and seven age categories. Results: Of the 200 participants (170 female, 30 male), 101 (50.5%) showed abnormal TSH values. Hypothyroidism was identified in 97 participants (48.5%) and hyperthyroidism in 4 (2.0%). The overall prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was nearly identical between sexes (female 50.6% vs male 50.0%, P=1.00), while age group showed a highly significant association with TSH abnormality (P&lt;0.001), peaking in the 40-49-year group (89.7%). The female-to-male ratio for total thyroid dysfunction was 5.7:1, reflecting the much larger proportion of female participants rather than a higher within-sex risk. Conclusion: Thyroid dysfunction, principally hypothyroidism, is highly prevalent among hospital outpatients in Jashore City, with prevalence rising sharply with age and peaking in middle adulthood, supporting the case for systematic age-targeted thyroid screening in this population.</jats:p>