Browsing by Author "Yonazi, Christine R."

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    Thyroid function derangement among patients with heart failure attending medical clinics in Dar es Salaam
    (Kairuki University, 2025) Yonazi, Christine R.
    Background: Thyroid dysfunction complicates the management of heart failure (HF), contributing to treatment refractoriness, increased medication burden, and poor outcomes. Early detection in asymptomatic patients is posited as a strategy to improve prognosis. Objective: This study aimed to determine the pattern of thyroid function derangement among adults with HF in Dar es Salaam. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Thyroid status (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism) was defined using standard hormone level thresholds (TSH, fT3, fT4). Data analysis was performed using STATA 17, with a p-value <0.05 considered significant. Results: Among 359 HF patients, 20.1% had thyroid dysfunction. Hypothyroidism (13.7%) was significantly more prevalent than hyperthyroidism (6.4%), with subclinical hypothyroidism (11.7%) being the most common pattern (p<0.001). Thyroid derangement was significantly associated with the global type of HF, a higher NYHA class, a lower ejection fraction, and a history of hospitalization. Conclusion & Recommendation: The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction, particularly subclinical hypothyroidism, is high in this HF population and is linked to worse clinical severity. Routine screening with thyroid function tests (TSH, fT3, fT4) is recommended for all HF patients, including asymptomatic individuals, to enable early intervention.