A study on Cardiovascular manifestation in thyroid dysfunction patients attending a tertiary care hospital- A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Normal levels of thyroid hormones are very essential for the normal functioning of the heart. Cardiovascular dysfunction was a frequent finding in patients having either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can implicate changes in cardiac functions like cardiac contractility, myocardial oxygen consumption, cardiac output, blood pressure, and systemic vascular resistance. Most often cardiac abnormalities reverse to normal once the euthyroid state is achieved.

Objective: To find out the various cardiac abnormalities occurring in thyroid diseases.
Methodology: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in V.M.K.V. Medical College Hospital, Salem. A total of 100 patients who had thyroid gland dysfunction were included in the study. The study period was between January to May 2023. Baseline information on the basic Laboratory Tests, Serum Electrolytes, Fasting lipid profile, FT4, FT3, and TSH, and Radiological variables were collected in these patients. ECG and 2D ECHO were performed on these patients to analyze the presence of any cardiac disorders.

Results: In hyperthyroid patients, the most common cardiovascular symptoms were palpitation (78.0%), followed by marked Dyspnea (34.0%) and the commonest ECG finding was found to be Sinus tachycardia (46.0%) followed by atrial fibrillation (28.0%) while Echocardiographic evaluation showed systolic dysfunction in 18.0% and Chamber enlargement in 18.0% of patients followed by Diastolic dysfunction in 12.0% of patients. In hypothyroid patients, the commonest cardiovascular symptoms were Dyspnea (52.0%) followed by palpitation (30.0%) and ECG changes showed sinus bradycardia in 36.0% of the patients, followed by Low voltage complexes in 22.0% while commonest echocardiographic changes were Pericardial effusion (22.0%) followed by Diastolic dysfunction (12.0%) and Left ventricular hypokinesia in 14.0% of patients.

Conclusion: Cardiovascular manifestations are common in patients with thyroid disease and may be the only manifestation of thyroid disease. Early recognition and initiation of thyroid disorders' treatment may help lower heart changes as it is a reversible cause of cardiac manifestation.