Prevalence of Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients with Gallstone Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India

Abstract

Background: Gallstone disease (GSD) is a common hepatobiliary condition in India, and emerging evidence suggests thyroid dysfunction, particularly subclinical hypothyroidism, may contribute to its pathogenesis through altered lipid metabolism, delayed biliary emptying, and reduced gallbladder motility. Indian studies have reported thyroid dysfunction in 17-42% of gallstone patients, yet thyroid screening is not routinely performed in this population.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction, particularly hypothyroidism, among patients diagnosed with gallstone disease at a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted over 18 months at the Department of General Surgery, PES Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (PESIMSR), Kuppam. Seventy-nine adults with ultrasound-confirmed cholelithiasis were recruited by convenience sampling. Patients with known thyroid disease, prior thyroidectomy, or thyroid-altering medication were excluded. Serum T3, T4, and TSH were estimated for all participants, and data were analysed using SPSS v23.0, with chi-square and ANOVA tests applied as appropriate (p<0.05 significant).

Results: The majority of participants were female (65.82%) and aged 41-50 years (26.58%). Overall, 82.28% of patients were euthyroid, 11.39% had subclinical hypothyroidism, and 6.33% had overt hypothyroidism. Thyroid dysfunction was more prevalent among females (23.08% combined) than males (7.41%), and was most frequent in the 41-50 year age group. Uncomplicated gallstone disease carried the highest burden of thyroid dysfunction (20.64%) compared with gallstones with common bile duct stones (10.0%) and acute calculous cholecystitis (0%).

Conclusion: Nearly one in five patients with gallstone disease demonstrated some form of thyroid dysfunction, predominantly subclinical hypothyroidism among middle-aged women. Routine thyroid function screening in gallstone patients, particularly in high-risk subgroups, may aid early detection and holistic management.