Patterns of Echocardiographic abnormalities in thyrotoxic patients on follow up at Jimma Medical Center, Ethiopia, A Hospital based observational study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Thyrotoxicosis is a common endocrine disorder that can lead to clinically significant cardiovascular disease. Early recognition and control of hyperthyroidism can reduce serious cardiac complications with significant morbidity and mortality. Echocardiographic abnormalities were evident and informative regarding subsequent complications. The main aim of this study was to determine the patterns of Echocardiographic abnormalities in patients with thyrotoxicosis during treatment and follow-up at Jimma Medical Center, Ethiopia. Methodology: A hospital-based prospective semi-observational study was conducted on all patients diagnosed with thyrotoxicosis and followed up at the Jimma Medical Center, Ethiopia, during the study period. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data were checked and entered into Epidata version 4.6.0.5 and exported to SPSS version 23.0. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the predictors of echocardiographic changes and associated factors. Results: A total of 114 patients with thyrotoxicosis were included in this study, with the mean age of 45.32 years. Females accounted for 71.1% of the patients. The mean duration of the symptoms before presentation was 36 months. The frequent causes of thyrotoxicosis were toxic multi-nodular goiter, 91(79.8%), Graves’ disease, 16 (14.0%), toxic adenoma, 3(2.6%), thyroiditis 2(1.8%), and thyroid cancer 2(1.8%). Pulmonary hypertension (47%), mitral regurgitation (41%), and left ventricular hypertrophy (40%) were found to be the frequent echocardiographic abnormalities associated with thyrotoxicosis. Conclusion: Toxic multi-nodular goiter was the leading cause of thyrotoxicosis. Pulmonary hypertension, mitral regurgitation, and left ventricular hypertrophy are the most common echocardiographic findings associated with thyrotoxicosis in the study participants. Comorbid conditions are significant among patients with thyrotoxicosis leading to the unclarity of echocardiographic findings solely due to thyrotoxicosis.