The prevalence of cardiovascular abnormalities in thyrotoxicosis – A cross sectional study

Background: in this cross sectional study over a period of one year,conducted in the division of cardiology,dept. of medicine,govt. medical college hospital jammu,a total of 50 cases were studied for cardiovascular abnormalities occurring in thyrotoxicosis. aims: we investigated the prevalence and clinical importance of cardiovascular abnormalities in patience with thyrotoxicosis. settings and design: this is a cross sectional study conducted over a period of one year in a tertiary care hospital offering specialty and super specialty including cardiology. we studied 50 cases of whom 11 were males and 39 were females. the study covered age group with a range of 16 years to 85 years. methods and material: all newly diagnosed cased of thyrotoxicosis were included in the study and were evaluated on a protocol which includes: history,general physical examination,cardiovascular examination and investigation: bio chemical profile,hormonal assay,chest radiography,twelve – lead electrocardiogram (ecg),echocardiography (echo) (m-mode/2 dimensional/colour doppler). statistical analysis: descriptive analysis including calculation of percentages as deemed fit for qualitative variables. for quantitative variables,mean and standard deviation were calculated and reported. results: 50 patients (mean [+/- sd] age,45.7 yrs,range 16-85 yrs; 78% females) were included. weakness and fatigability was present in every patient (100%),followed by palpitation,shortness of breath and weight loss (94%). we found ventricular hypertrophy (40%),congestive heart failure (chf) (36%),cardiomegaly (24%),arrhythmias (24%) and bundle branch block (18%) of the patients. conclusion: cardiovascular abnormalities in thyrotoxicosis should never be over looked,prognosis and outcome of the heart disease depends on early institution of treatment and control of the hormone levels. © 2015 bangladesh society of medicine. all rights reserved.