no funds for TSH testing

Patients admitted to the hospital with acute illness may have a wide spectrum of thyroid function abnormalities. It is largely unknown whether such aberrations are temporary or persist for a long time, and whether they impact prognosis of such patients.

Recently, there has been a growing body of evidence that subclinical thyroid dysfunction as a contributor to the increase of cardiovascular events. Elevated serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and normal free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels have been associated with worse heart failure and dyslipidemia. Furthermore, higher risk of atrial fibrillation has been linked tp thyroid abnormalities in these patients.

Patients admitted to the hospital with acute illness may have a wide spectrum of thyroid function abnormalities. It is largely unknown whether such aberrations are temporary or persist for a long time, and whether they impact prognosis of such patients. This study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of thyroid function abnormalities in patients admitted to hospital with acute illness and their temporal changes and impact on mortality during hospitalization and at 1 year. Serum level of thyroid stimulating hormone and free T4 and T3 measured on admission. Clinical and laboratory profiles of patients with abnormal thyroid function (ATF group) will be compared to those with normal thyroid function (NTF group). Short and long term survival of both groups were compares as well.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Hospital admission
• Adults aged 18 years and above
• Willing to sign an informed consent
• Diagnosis on admission is acute illness that includes: heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, sepsis, acute stroke, hypotension, acute system-organ failure including renal and hepatic failure.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age less than 18 years.
• Refusal to sign consent.
• Admission for a reason not classified as acute illness.

nclusion Criteria: All patients admitted to the hospital with acute illness will have their serum level of thyroid stimulating hormone and free T4 and T3 measured on admission. Clinical and laboratory profiles of patients with abnormal thyroid function (Group 1) will be compared to those with normal thyroid function (Group 2). Serum thyroid test will be repeated at 6 months. Short and long term survival of both groups will be compared as well.

Diagnosis on admission is acute illness includes: heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, sepsis, acute stroke, hypotension, acute system-organ failure including renal and hepatic failure.

Will contact other ICU physicians in the city of Amman to invite them to participate in the study