Journal of Clinical Physiotherapy Research

Introduction: Hypothyroidism, characterized by an underactive thyroid, is a prevalent condition often accompanied by metabolic changes and goiter. Despite successful treatment, previous research suggests that the quality of life for many patients may be reduced. This study aims to investigate the quality of life in women with hypothyroidism, specifically those treated with levothyroxine, by comparing them to a control group. Materials and Methods: A case-control study involving 61 women aged 18 to 65 with hypothyroidism treated with levothyroxine was conducted. The World Health Organization Quality of Life-26 questionnaire (WHO/QOL-BREF) was used to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The collected data from the WHO/QOL-BREF questionnaires were compared between the patient group and a healthy control group. Serum T4 and TSH levels were also measured in both groups. Results: The average WHO/QOL-BREF score for the patient group was 84.7±10.9, while the healthy control group scored 88.3±12.1. Although there was no significant difference in overall HRQOL, significant differences were observed between the two groups in the physical health (13.75±2.54 for patients and 14.9±2.1 for healthy individuals) and psychological health domains (11.84±2.69 for patients and 13.2±2.3 for healthy individuals). No significant differences were found in the social and environmental health domains (social: patients 12.51±3.15, healthy individuals 12.1±3.4; environmental: patients 13.62±1.75, healthy individuals 13.3±2.2) (P-value=0.74). Conclusion: In this study, significant differences were observed only in the physical and psychological health domains of women with treated hypothyroidism, with their average scores being lower than those of healthy individuals. However, no significant differences were found in the social and environmental health domains between the two groups.