European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent chronic autoimmune illness that does not target specific organs. In contrast, autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is the most often occurring autoimmune disease that specifically affects the thyroid gland, potentially resulting in either hypo- or hyperthyroidism. The aetiology of both diseases is multifaceted, involving a combination of genetic and environmental variables. Furthermore, there are shared genetic elements that contribute to the development of both diseases. Methods: This observational study was conducted at the rheumatology OPD/Medicine OPD at Tertiary Care Hospital. The study included patients of rheumatoid arthritis, aged >18 years, who fulfilled European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) - 2010 criteria for rheumatoid arthritis and was screened for: free T3 (free triidothyronine), free T4 (free thyroxine) and TSH ( thyroid stimulating hormone). Results: Among a cohort of 100 patients, it was revealed that 41% of the patients exhibited thyroid abnormalities. Specifically, the study revealed that 59% of the participants exhibited normal thyroid function, while 6% were diagnosed with hypothyroidism, 10% with hyperthyroidism, 24% with subclinical hypothyroidism, and 1% with subclinical hyperthyroidism. Patients with thyroid abnormality had significantly lower levels of hemoglobin (p-value <0.001), mean corpuscular volume (p-value 0.011), total leucocyte count (p-value 0.004), and platelet counts (p-value 0.040) compared to individuals without thyroid problem. In addition, a statistically significant decrease in urea (p-value <0.001) and creatinine levels (p-value <0.001) was seen in patients with thyroid abnormalities compared to those without thyroid abnormalities. Conclusion: Thyroid dysfunction has been observed to exhibit a significant prevalence among individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study detected cases of subclinical hypothyroidism, which is the most prevalent thyroid condition, as well as cases of overt hyperthyroidism.