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Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the compliance to congenital hypothyroidism (CH) therapy and the effect of noncompliance on the physical and mental development. Background CH is the most common preventable cause of mental retardation in children. Early treatment and high compliance are important prognostic factors for mental and physical development in children with CH. Patients and methods A prospective study design was conducted in the Endocrinology Outpatient Clinics in Sharkia Governorate health insurance center. The participants were 120 newborns and infants with CH and their mothers (patients), and 120 age-matched volunteers of healthy infants and children and their mothers (control). Data were collected using multistructured questionnaires for determining the socioeconomic state, clinical picture, personal, family and obstetric history, and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS 8) to assess compliance. Assessment of physical growth was carried out through anthropometric measurements and assessment of mental development was conducted using Vineland-II scale for infants below 2 years and using Stanford–Binet 5 Intelligence scales for individuals of 2 years and older. Review of the results of investigations at diagnosis and during the follow-up visits are provided. Results Two-thirds of the patient families were highly compliant. There was a very high significant difference between different compliance grades and between patients and control groups as regards the parameters of mental and physical development. No significant difference was found between the highly compliant cases and control. Conclusion Compliance to therapy in our patients and/or their family was reasonable. High compliance to treatment was an important prognostic factor for normal mental and physical development in patients with CH.

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