Journal of Thyroid Disorders & Therapy
Open Access

The Effects of Socioeconomic Status on the Prevalence and Prognosis of Thyroid Disease

Koch Wagner^{* *}Correspondence: Koch Wagner, Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany, Email:

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Description

Millions of individuals worldwide are impacted by thyroid disorders, which include hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and thyroid cancer. Socioeconomic Status (SES) is becoming more widely acknowledged as a important factor affecting both prevalence and prognosis, even if biological variables still play a major role in the onset and course of many illnesses. Health inequalities are influenced by a number of factors that are included in Socioeconomic Status (SES), including income, education, occupation, and social class. The impact of Socioeconomic Status (SES) on the incidence and prognosis of thyroid illness is examined in this article, along with the processes by which these factors work and possible solutions to reduce the differences in these outcomes.

Prevalence of thyroid disease and socioeconomic status

Significant differences exist in the frequency of thyroid illness between various socioeconomic groups. Thyroid diseases are more common in those with lower Socioeconomic Status (SES) for a variety of connected reasons. One major factor that determines the prevalence of an illness is access to healthcare services. Low SES people frequently encounter obstacles to receiving healthcare, such as lack of health insurance, high outof- pocket expenses, and geographical restrictions. As a result, individuals could only have restricted access to standard medical examinations and diagnostic procedures. A more advanced state of the disease at the time of diagnosis and an underestimate of its prevalence might result from this delay in diagnosis. Thyroid health is greatly influenced by nutritional status, which is strongly correlated with SES. For instance, iodine deficiency is a well-known risk factor for goiter and hypothyroidism. People in lower socioeconomic groups are more prone to have diets lacking in vital nutrients because they have less access to wholesome food. These populations may have a higher incidence of thyroid problems as a result of this lack. Environmental risk factors including pollution and substances that affect the hormone system may be more common among those in lower socioeconomic groups. The development of thyroid illness may be facilitated by these chemicals' interference with thyroid function. The danger is increased for persons with lower socioeconomic status since they frequently reside in locations with higher pollution and industrial activity levels. People with lower socioeconomic status usually have worse health literacy, or the capacity to comprehend and use health information. This may affect their understanding of the signs of thyroid illness and the significance of prompt diagnosis and therapy. Insufficient knowledge about health care can cause delays in obtaining medical attention, which can increase the frequency and severity of diseases.

Prognosis of thyroid disease and socioeconomic status

The socioeconomic position has a substantial impact on the prognosis as well as the prevalence of thyroid illness. This association is the result of several causes. Effective management of thyroid illness requires strict adherence to recommended treatment plans. Because of their limited financial resources, inability to get to medical facilities, and trouble comprehending prescription instructions, people of lower socioeconomic status may find it difficult to follow treatment plans. Adherence issues may result in less effective management of the illness and worse prognostic consequences. Diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease are among the comorbid illnesses that are more common in lower socioeconomic strata. The prognosis may suffer and thyroid disease therapy may become more difficult as a result of certain comorbidities. Furthermore, the strain of dealing with several chronic illnesses might worsen the state of one's health. Thyroid function can be negatively impacted by chronic stress, which is frequently more common in lower SES populations. The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis is triggered by stress and can cause disturbances in the control of thyroid hormones. This body's reaction to stress may worsen thyroid conditions and have detrimental effects on health. People with lower socioeconomic status are less likely to use preventative healthcare services and may put off getting help until their symptoms worsen. A worse prognosis may arise from this delay if the disease is further advanced when it is diagnosed, necessitating more severe treatment. Furthermore, patients of lower socioeconomic status may get care in underfunded medical facilities, which may have an impact on the standard of follow-up care and therapy.

Mechanisms linking SES and thyroid disease

It is essential to comprehend the processes behind the relationship between SES and thyroid illness in order to design successful therapies. There are several known mechanisms via which SES affects thyroid function, including the onset and course of thyroid illness can be influenced by immune system dysfunction and chronic stress linked to poor socioeconomic status. Furthermore, thyroid hormone production and metabolism may be impacted by dietary inadequacies that are common in lower socioeconomic groups. By socioeconomic status, there are differences in health behaviors such as food, exercise, smoking, and alcohol use. Risk factors for thyroid illness include unhealthy lifestyle choices that are more prevalent in people with lower socioeconomic status. For instance, Graves' illness, a kind of hyperthyroidism, is known to be associated with smoking. Results of thyroid illness are significantly influenced by factors such as healthcare service quality and accessibility. Delays in diagnosis, treatment start, and routine follow-up care are common among lower SES groups because they have less access to healthcare. The course of the disease and its management are made more difficult by inadequate access to healthcare services.

Conclusion

Due to a variety of complicated linked factors, including healthrelated behaviors, nutritional status, environmental exposures and healthcare access, socioeconomic class has a substantial impact on the occurrence and prognosis of thyroid illness. Targeted actions are needed to decrease environmental hazards, increase health literacy, guarantee appropriate nutrition, improve access to healthcare and offer comprehensive treatment in order to address these inequities. Improved thyroid health outcomes and a decrease in the total burden of thyroid illness on society can be achieved by addressing the underlying causes of SESrelated health disparities.