The Impact of Hypothyroidism on the Quality of Life of Adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background and objective Hypothyroidism is extremely common and associated with far-reaching health consequences. The negative effects of hypothyroidism on patients' quality of life (QoL) are well-documented. It is said to be common in the countries of the Arabian Gulf, although it is often misdiagnosed and treated in an inconsistent manner. Hence, understanding how an illness like this affects a patient's life might help us enhance their QoL and get us closer to the healthcare transformation goals of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between June 2022 and February 2023. A convenience non-probability sampling method was used. The WHO Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF questionnaire in Arabic was used to compile the data. Data were collected using a standardized form, refined using Google Forms, and then documented in an Excel spreadsheet. The descriptive statistics were shown as means and standard deviations (SD). To assess the numerical data, a t-test was used, while the chi-square test was employed to examine the relationship between the qualitative factors. Results A total of 394 adults from the general population with hypothyroidism were surveyed, including 105 men and 289 women. Of them, 151 (38.3%) patients had not sought therapy for their hypothyroidism, while 243 (61.7%) patients had. When asked about the QoL, a significant segment (37.6%) of patients reported that it was high, and 29.7% reported being totally satisfied with their health. The WHOQOL-BREF domain scores revealed that environmental health had the highest value (24.04 ±4.62), followed by physical health (22.24 ±3.23), and then psychological health (18.08 ±2.82), and the lowest scores were reported for the rate of QoL and satisfaction with health (2.64 ±1.36 and 2.80 ±1.68), respectively. Each domain of the WHOQOL-BREF had its own set of variables that differed from one another in a statistically significant manner (p<0.001). Conclusions Based on our findings, we recommend expert physician monitoring and implementing educational programs as well as placing a greater emphasis on patients' QoL in the management of hypothyroidism.