Perfil tiroideo en trabajadores recolectores de residuos reciclables de las ciudades de Macas, La Libertad y Cuenca, 2023

Abstract

Waste pickers earn their livelihood by collecting usable residues usually from garbage, which are subsequently sold. This activity is the cause of difficulties that can have an impact on their health. The thyroid profile is a group of hormones that have metabolic functions in our body, secreted by the thyroid gland, Triiodothyronine (T3), and Thyroxine (T4), while the adenohypophysis takes part in the production of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Therefore, the analysis of these hormones is paramount to diagnose different pathologies relates the thyroid gland. The purpose of this study was to analyze the thyroid profile I waste pickers in the cities of Macas, La Libertad, and Cuenca, in 2023. Through a descriptive study, data was collected using a form and simple tables and/or crossed tabulation was carried out using percentage values and frequencies as well as IBM SPSS Statics and Microsoft Excel. Result show that 43.1% of participants in the study presented alterations in their thyroid profile. Alterations included high levels (19.73%) and low levels (0.67%) regarding TSH, while in FT3, only high levels were recorded (6.0%). FT4 only presented low levels (16.7%). The most frequent age group was that of older adults 821.4%) and young adults (20.7%), while young people reached 1.0%. In regard to sex, females presented more alterations (31.43%).