AUTHOR=Ganie Mohd Ashraf , Charoo Bashir A. , Sahar Tajali , Bhat Moomin Hussain , Ali Sheikh Abid , Niyaz Madiha , Sidana Shivani , Yaseen Arajmand 

TITLE=Thyroid Function, Urinary Iodine, and Thyroid Antibody Status Among the Tribal Population of Kashmir Valley: Data From Endemic Zone of a Sub-Himalayan Region

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.555840

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2020.555840

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Background: There is scarce data on the prevalence of thyroid disorders and urinary iodine status among tribal populations of India with no reported data from Kashmir valley. 
Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of thyroid disorders, evaluate urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and thyroid auto-antibody status among Gujjar and Bakerwal tribes of Kashmir valley.
Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited tribal subjects using multi-stage cluster sampling from five out of twenty-two districts of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Using a predesigned questionnaire, the details of past or current medical history, drug intake including thyroid hormone medication etc. were recorded after obtaining an informed consent. Examination included anthropometry (height, weight, waist circumference), blood pressure measurement, relevant general physical examination focusing on goiter palpation while as laboratory assessment included estimation of serum thyroid hormone levels, antithyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO Ab) and urinary iodine concentration.
Results: A total of 763 subjects (56.4% women and 43.6% men) with a mean(±SD) age of 39.46 (±17.51) ranging from 10 to 85 years and mean(±SD) BMI of 21.28 (±4.16) kg/m2 were studied.  Goitre was detected in 6.8% while 33.2 % subjects had some form of thyroid dysfunction (including 24.1% subclinical and 6.8% overt hypothyroidism). Subclinical and overt hyperthyroidism was observed in 1.3% and 0.9% of cases respectively.  Anti-TPO Ab was elevated in 13.6%, while the median (IQR) for UIC was 154.50(135)μg/L [156.13(134)μg/L in men and 147.26(136)μg/L in women]. A negative correlation was observed between UIC and anti-TPO Ab (r=-0.087, P=<0.05).
Conclusion: This novel data on iodine and thyroid status among a tribal population of India generally inhabiting remote subHimalayan belts demonstrates high prevalence of SCH with persistent iodine deficiency. This preliminary data may warrant large well-designed studies to carry out comprehensive assessment of the problem in this high risk and marginalized population.