VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF METABOLISM AND THYROID QUESTIONNAIRE AND ITS RELATION WITH SERUM CONCENTRATION OF THYROID HORMONE

There is increasing interest about the relationship between metabolism, obesity and function of thyroid hormones in recent decades. This study aimed to determine the validity of a “thyroid and metabolism questionnaire” and its relationship with metabolism status and function of thyroid hormones. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study on 164 people aged 20-64 years who were selected randomly from nutrition clinic. “Thyroid and Metabolism questionnaire” including 25 questions were completed for everyone. Biochemical parameters including serum level of T3, T4 and TSH were measured. Resting energy expenditure [REE] was measured by indirect calorimeter. The mean measured REE and calculated with Harris-Benedict formula were 1826.7 ± 475.34 and 2277.6 ± 454.54 kcal in men and 1410.8 ± 205.5 and 1670.73 ± 136.10 kcal in women; respectively. The final score of this questionnaire had no significant association with measured REE. REE showed indirect relationship with serum level of T3, T4, T3/T4 and inverse relationship with TSH. Metabolism status of every participant was obtained via measuring and calculating REE with set and formula. The metabolism status of participants showed no agreements with metabolism status that predicted from “Thyroid and Metabolism” questionnaire. There was no significant association between metabolism status that was measured by indirect calorimeter and calculated from “Thyroid and Metabolism” questionnaire. From 25 questions of this questionnaire, only questions number 1, 4, 16 and 23 showed significant association with measured REE [P< 0.05]. Results of this study showed that “Thyroid and Metabolism” questionnaire had internal consistency, but not validity.