Public Awareness of the Symptoms and Risk Factors of Thyroid Disease in Saudi Arabia

October 2024 in “ Cureus ”

Ramy Hassan Agwa, Warda Othman, Khalid M Alkhalifah, Reem M Alharthi, Fatemah H Algafli, Sara M Alghamdi, Taif S Alghamdi, Sarah I Alghamdi, Salman J Alharthi

thyroid disease hair loss amiodarone

TLDR Many people in Saudi Arabia lack awareness of thyroid disease risk factors and symptoms, highlighting the need for better health education.

The study in the Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia, involving 531 participants, revealed significant gaps in public awareness of thyroid disease risk factors and symptoms. While 14.9% had been diagnosed with thyroid disease and many recognized symptoms like fatigue and hair loss, less than half were aware of key risk factors such as amiodarone medication use. Nearly half of the participants had low knowledge scores, with females, those aged 38-48, university-educated individuals, and those with a family history or previous diagnosis showing higher knowledge. The study emphasizes the need for targeted health education to improve awareness and early detection, enhancing community quality of life.

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