Diagnostic Itinerary of Patients Monitored for Thyroid Disease at the Conakry University Hospital in 2022

Introduction: Thyroid pathologies are either the cause or a consequence of certain pathologies with which they interact, manifesting themselves through a polymorphic and non-specific clinic. They affect different devices and/or systems, making the clinical picture more complex or even a delay in diagnosis and treatment. These latter aspects, being then multidimensional, could be preceded by a very specific patient itinerary for the diagnosis and management of cases of thyroid gland pathologies. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study whose data were collected from May 1 to October 30, 2022. It focused on patients followed for thyroid diseases at the Conakry University Hospital. The objectives were to describe the patient’s journey before their diagnosis of thyroid disease. Results: The subjects were 86.1% women with a mean age of 43.7 ± 28 years. Of the total, 67.85% had a comorbidity including diabetes and/or hypertension/heart disease. They are followed for goiters/simple nodules (22.78%), hypothyroidism (16.46%) and hyperthyroidism (60.76%). They spend at least 9 months before resorting to a healthcare facility. The general medicine services of the Conakry University Hospital are the first recourse (51.9%) of these subjects. They consult 2 to 4 times before the diagnosis is suggested. Hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and goiters/simple nodules spend 5.4; 6.4 and 13.7 months respectively before the diagnosis is made. 31.6% were hospitalized and treated mainly for malaria (19.0%), hypertension (13.1%), salmonellosis (13.1%) and diabetes (8.3%). A third of patients used traditional therapy before being in contact with the endocrinology department by referral (73.4%). Conclusion: This study made it possible to show a pre-diagnostic pathway which has a particular character concerning patients followed for thyroid pathologies in Guinea.