Perfil epidemiológico de la mortalidad por enfermedades tiroideas en Ecuador en el año 2023-septiembre 2025-abril 2026

Abstract

Background: Thyroid diseases are disorders that affect the function of the thyroid gland and disrupt the body’s metabolic balance; when they are not diagnosed or treated promptly, they can progress to serious complications such as thyrotoxic crisis, myxedema coma, or advanced cancer, increasing the risk of death. Objective: To determine an epidemiological profile of mortality from thyroid diseases in Ecuador in 2023 based on data reported by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC, in Spanish). Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective study; the sample consisted of 282 death records attributed to thyroid gland diseases during 2023 in Ecuador. Results: Females accounted for the majority of deaths, representing 67.38%, with malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland (C73) being the leading cause of death in both sexes (73.05%), followed by unspecified hypothyroidism (17.02%). The mean age was 71.5 years, ranging from 23 to 100 years. By age group, the highest proportion of deaths was concentrated among adults aged 65 to 79 (35.46%) and adults aged 80 and older (35.11%), while the 20–39 age group had the lowest percentage of cases (3.90%). Geographically, the highest concentration was observed in the Coast region, particularly in Guayas (21.28%), and Pichincha has the highest proportion in the Highlands (18.09%). Urban areas predominated, accounting for 74.82% of cases. Conclusion: The results reflect sociodemographic patterns that may inform the planning of prevention strategies, timely diagnosis, and access to specialized care. Keywords: thyroid diseases, epidemiology, hypothyroidism, mortality, thyroid neoplasms.