Pattern of thyroid disorders in the southwestern region of Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: Thyroid disorders were thought to be rare in Africans in the early 1960s. However the 1970s witnessed an upsurge in reported cases of thyroid disorders in Africans. In endocrinology clinics in Nigeria, thyroid disorders are the second most common endocrine disorders seen. This study attempts to describe the patterns of thyroid disorders, clinical features, and complications as seen in Nigerians.

Design/subjects: This is a descriptive study that took place from June 2004 to August 2005 in the Department of Medicine of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Nigeria. The demographic data, anthropometric indices, clinical features and associated complications of thyroid disorders were documented. Patients were categorized into three broad groups according to symptoms and biochemical profile as being euthyroid, thyrotoxic and hypothyroid.

Results: The total number of patients with thyroid disorders seen in a 15-month period was 78. The female:male ratio was 5:1. The mean (standard deviation) age of all the subjects studied was 40 (12.4) years. The female:male ratio of those with thyrotoxicosis was 5.6:1. Cardiovascular complications of thyrotoxicosis, namely heart failure and atrial fibrillation, were the most common reasons for prolonged morbidity and hospitalizations. Hypothyroidism was present in five (7%), Graves disease/hyperthyroidism in 63 (84%), and euthyroid in 10 (9%). Obstructive symptoms were documented in eight (13%) of the subjects with palpable goiters.

Conclusion: Thyroid disorders in Nigerians are a significant cause of cardiovascular morbidity. Public awareness of thyroid disorders and their potential complications could lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic facilities.