Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Thyrotoxicosis is a clinical state that results from inappropriately high thyroid
hormone action in tissues. If thyroid hormones not controlled timely, it can lead to
serious complications. However, studies on time to euthyroid and its determinants among
thyrotoxicosis patients on antithyroid drugs were limited.
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine time to euthyroid and its determinants among
thyrotoxicosis patients on antithyroid drug.
Method: Multicentered retrospective follow up study was conducted from March 30, 2020, to
July 30, 2020, and pat ients’ ?18 years of age with a diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis who received
antithyroid medications and attend to medical and chronic ambulatory clinics of South Tigray
General Hospitals from January 1, 2015, to January 1, 2020, was included. A systematic random
sampling technique was used to draw the final sample. Data was extracted from medical records
using checklist. Data was entered in to Epidata manager 3.1 software and exported to Statistics
and data analysis software (STATA) version 15 for statistical analysis. A variable with P<0.2 in
bivariable analysis was taken to multivariable analysis. Cox proportional hazard assumptions
were tested using global test. A Cox regression model was used to determine factors associated
with time to euthyroidisim. Hazard ratio with a 95% confidence interval with the corresponding
P-value <0.05 was declared statistically significant in multivariable analysis.
Result: Data from 336 patients was analyzed. More than three-forth 88.7% (n=298) of the
patients were females. The mean age of patients at diagnosis was 46.7years with SD ± 11.94
years. More than half 51.9% (n=175) were become euthyroid. Age greater than 40 year
[AHR=0.702, 95%CI (0.544-0.962), P= 0.015], and toxic multinodular goiter [AHR=0.692,
95%CI (0.603-0.869), P=0.024], WHO goiter size III [AHR=0.779, 95%CI (0.543-0.821),
P=0.031] and baseline Free Thyroxin (FT4) [AHR=0.964, 95%CI (0.807-0.998), p=0.035] were
significantly associated with delayed time to euthyroid.
Conclusion and Recommendation: In this study time to euthyroid was longer than the expected
time. High baseline Free Thyroxin (FT4), toxic multinodular goiter, elder patients, and patients
with WHO goiter size III were associated with delayed time to euthyroid. Therefore, close
follow-up is important in such type of patients.
Keyword: Thyrotoxicosis, Propylthiouracil, Euthyroid, Thyroid, South Tigray, Ethiopia
