Internal Organ and Musculoskeletal Assessment in Hypothyroidism (HYPOMORPH)

HYPOMORPH is a hospital-based observational cross-sectional study designed to comprehensively characterise internal-organ morphometry and musculoskeletal status in adults with previously diagnosed hypothyroidism receiving routine medical care in Andijan, Uzbekistan. Approximately 500 adults aged 18-59 years will be included. Participants undergo standardised clinical and anthropometric assessment, ultrasonographic examination of the liver, pancreas and both kidneys, measurement of handgrip strength, and assessment of physical performance using the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test and 4-m gait speed test. Sarcopenia risk and habitual physical activity are assessed using the SARC-F questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), respectively. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) concentrations are measured to characterise thyroid functional status at the time of assessment. The study evaluates ultrasonographic morphometric characteristics of the liver, pancreas and kidneys and musculoskeletal functional characteristics, and investigates their associations with thyroid-related, anthropometric, clinical and laboratory variables. Multivariable regression analyses will be used to identify factors independently associated with organ-specific morphometric and functional outcomes.