A PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY ON RESPIRATORY FUNCTION IN HYPERTHYROID AND EUTHYROID PATIENTS UNDERGOING TOTAL THYROIDECTOMY AND ITS REVERSAL drshradha3956@gmail.com

 

A PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY ON RESPIRATORY FUNCTION IN HYPERTHYROID AND EUTHYROID PATIENTS UNDERGOING TOTAL THYROIDECTOMY AND ITS REVERSAL

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India

Oral or Poster

Hyperthyroidism can impair respiratory function, detectable through non-invasive pulmonary function tests (PFTs). The effects of hyperthyroidism on pulmonary function, and the changes following total thyroidectomy, remain underexplored in the existing literature. This study aims to compare pulmonary function between hyperthyroid and euthyroid patients and evaluate postoperative outcomes following thyroidectomy.

This prospective comparative single centre study included 80 patients: Group A (n=40) with hyperthyroidism and Group B (n=40) with euthyroid thyroid disorders. PFTs were done in Group A at diagnosis, after achieving euthyroidism preoperatively, and at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3–6 months post-operatively. Group B underwent PFTs at identical pre- and post-operative intervals. Patients with cardiopulmonary disease, smoking history, or nerve palsy were excluded.

Group A: mean age 35.6±10.1yrs, 72.5% female and Group B: mean age 47.1±9.9yrs, 75% female, 75% normal PFTs .Group A demonstrated severe baseline impairment: FVC 2.44±0.60L vs predicted 3.87±0.63L (62.9% predicted), with 65% showing restrictive patterns. Dramatic improvements occurred post-thyroidectomy. Peak recovery occurred at 1-month:FVC increased to 82% (2.44L → 4.43L),FEV1 83% (2.01L → 3.66L),FEV1/FVC 12%, FEF 72%, PEF 51%. At 3 months FVC increased to 4.14±1.44L (69.9%) and FEV1 to 3.30±1.18L (64.6%),FEV1/FVC 9%, FEF 72%,PEF 47% (all p<0.001). Group B showed minimal, non-significant changes throughout, validating thyroid-specific effects

Hyperthyroidism can cause subclinical respiratory dysfunction in a significant number of patients compared to euthyroid individuals, detectable through PFTs. This dysfunction shows measurable improvement following total thyroidectomy, highlighting the utility of PFTs in assessing respiratory impact and recovery in hyperthyroid patients undergoing surgical management.