UTILITY OF TSH AND FREE T4 IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF THYROID DISORDERS
Keywords:
TSH, free T4, thyroid function, thyroid disorders, clinical laboratory, databaseAbstract
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/gt.v9i18edespsep.0454
Abstract
Thyroid function plays a fundamental role in regulating metabolism and the functioning of various body organs; therefore, assessing thyroid hormones is an important tool for identifying potential changes. The aim of this study was to analyze thyroid function by determining TSH and free T4 levels in patient records from Salcedo Canton to identify potential changes consistent with thyroid disorders. The study employed a quantitative, non-experimental, observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional design, utilizing a pre-existing secondary database provided by the supervising specialist. The database comprised 30 records of men and women aged 20 and older, providing data on TSH and free T4 levels, as well as age and sex. No blood samples, interviews, or questionnaires were collected, as the information used had already been recorded. Data were organized and classified in Microsoft Excel based on laboratory reference values, using frequencies, percentages, tables, and graphs for descriptive analysis. The results showed that 21 records (70%) exhibited normal TSH values, while 9 (30%) showed elevated values; no low values were observed. The highest values recorded were 20.01 and 13.41 mIU/L. Regarding free T4, 28 records (93.3%) showed normal values, and 2 (6.7%) showed low values; no elevated results were found. It is concluded that analyzing total TSH and free T4 allows for the identification of potential changes in thyroid gland function within the examined records and helps determine the need for further clinical evaluation.
Keywords: TSH, free T4, thyroid function, thyroid disorders, clinical laboratory, database.
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