Abstract

Background: Pregnancy has numerous metabolic and hormonal changes that could trigger a complex and profound impact on thyroid function. The present study aims to determine the association of maternal hypothyroidism with neonatal outcomes in the Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: A retrospective descriptive cohort study was conducted in Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 1st of January to 31 December 2016, including all neonates who were admitted with the maternal hypothyroidism patients. We carefully obtained the data from electronic medical records then analyzed them on statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 23. The present study was ethically approved by the ethical committee of Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Results: The difference of preterm delivery, sex ratio, Apgar score (at 1 and 5 minutes), and normal growth between mothers with overt and mothers with subclinical maternal hypothyroidism was not found statistically significant. However, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission was more associated with neonates of mothers with overt hypothyroidism (11.8% vs. 7.2%; p = 0.064). Neonates of mothers with hypothyroidism were negatively associated with NICU admission compared to neonates of mothers with euthyroidism (odds ratio: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.51-0.88; p-value: 0.0037).
Conclusion: The present study suggests that a mother with hypothyroidism will require nothing but similar treatment as a mother with euthyroidism routinely required in terms of infant workup, follow up, and post-delivery care.

Key words: Hypothyroidism, neonatal intensive care unit, neonatal outcome, neonatal screening, congenital hypothyroidism, maternal health