# Comparison of Factors Influencing Gestational Outcomes in Healthy Versus Hypothyroid Women from Karachi, Pakistan

## TL;DR

This study compares factors affecting pregnancy outcomes in hypothyroid and healthy women in Pakistan, finding that age, prenatal appointment timing, and past miscarriages are linked to higher pregnancy loss.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific maternal factors influencing gestational outcomes in hypothyroid women compared to healthy controls.

## Key findings

- Pregnancy loss was lower in hypothyroid women (9.9%) compared to controls (14.3%).
- Gestational diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism showed protective effects against pregnancy loss.
- Age, gestational duration at prenatal appointment, and past miscarriages were linked to higher pregnancy loss.

## Abstract

Gestational outcomes are known to be negatively correlated with hypothyroidism. This study was designed to compare the maternal factors affecting gestational outcomes in women with and without hypothyroidism.

This retrospective analysis was carried out in a tertiary hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, between 2008 and 2016. A standardized form was used to collect information on the age of the mother, gestational duration at the prenatal appointment, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), hypertension, and past records of miscarriages in hypothyroid and healthy pregnant women. Gestational outcomes were recorded as live birth or pregnancy loss. Statistical analysis was performed to examine overt versus sub-clinical hypothyroidism and among those diagnosed before versus during gestation.

A collective of 708 women were enlisted in the hypothyroid pregnant group and 759 were recruited in healthy controls. Pregnancy loss was 9.9% (n=70) in hypothyroid women, whereas it was 14.3% (n=108) in the control group. The age of the mother, gestational duration at the prenatal appointment, and past records of miscarriages were discovered to be related to a higher chance of pregnancy loss in a multivariable analysis, but GDM (OR 0.04, CI 0.06-0.32, P=0.002) and hypothyroidism (OR 0.62, CI 0.43-0.89, P=0.01) exhibited a protective effect.

This study found the age of the mother, gestational duration at a prenatal appointment, and past records of miscarriages to be associated with negative outcomes in hypothyroidism. These factors remained significant in overt as well as subclinical hypothyroid women.