Abstract:
Background: - Graves’ disease is a common autoimmune endocrine disorder characterized by
thyroid hyperplasia and excessive thyroid hormone production. Thyroid eye disease results from
infiltration of the orbit by auto-reactive T-lymphocytes, proliferation of orbital fibroblasts and
increased orbital fat, leading to its clinical features. But the studies done on the prevalence and
associated clinical features of TED are so limited.
Objective: - The main objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of TED and clinical
characterstics of TED among goiter patients seen JUMC surgical referral clinic from April to
July, 2018.
Methods: - Institution based cross-sectional study was carried out among 211 patients seen in
JUMC surgical referral clinic from April – July 2018. Patients selected using systematic random
sampling technique and structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data was
coded and entered into Epi data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive and
bivariate analyses were done and all variables having a p-value of less than 0.25 were selected
for multivariable analyses. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to isolate
independent predictors of Thyroid eye disease. Data was presented using tables and graphs.
Results: - Out of 211 goiter patients seen at Jimma university medical center surgical referral
clinic over the 3 month study period; 27% of them were found to have thyroid eye disease.
Regarding the ocular symptoms, tearing was the leading compliant of the patients followed by
gritting sensation, double vision and eye pain. Among the signs of thyroid eye disease observed;
lid retraction was the most frequently observed while proptosis was found only in one case and
there was no exposure kerathopathy or dysthyroid optic neuropathy found.
The factors that had statistically significant association with the prevalence of thyroid eye
disease were thyroid dysfunction (AOR=2.781, [95% CI 1.362, 5.678] P=0.005), smoking (AOR
= 6.391, [95% CI 1.868, 21.860] P = 0.003), high blood pressure (AOR = 2.062, 95% CI 1.001 –
4.251] P = 0.050) and pulse rate (AOR=2.277[95% CI 1.003, 5.167] P=0.049).
Conclusion and recommendations: - Thyroid eye disease among goiter patients is common and
there are many patients having follow up for goiter. So, we have to educate the patients and the
physicians to link them to ophthalmology for detail eye examination.
