August 24, 2026 Thesis Open Access

BY: Dr. Worku Wegayehu (MD)

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{
  "DOI": "10.20372/nadre:25793", 
  "author": [
    {
      "family": "BY: Dr. Worku Wegayehu (MD)"
    }
  ], 
  "issued": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2026, 
        8, 
        24
      ]
    ]
  }, 
  "abstract": "<p><strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p>\n\n<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> Toxic goiter is a common endocrine disorder requiring long-term anti-thyroid drug therapy, yet evidence on time to biochemical euthyroidism and its predictors is limited in resource-limited settings. This study aimed to determine time to biochemical euthyroidism and its predictors among patients with toxic goiter treated with anti-thyroid drugs at Wallaga University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.</p>\n\n<p><strong>Methods</strong>: A five-year retrospective cohort study was conducted using 120 patient records selected from 143 eligible cases between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2025. Data were collected using a structured checklist via Epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 27. The Kaplan&ndash;Meier survival curve with log-rank test was used to compare differences in time to biochemical euthyroidism across categorical variables. Variables with a p-value &lt;0.25 in bivariable analysis were entered into the multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model. The proportional hazards assumption was assessed using Schoenfeld residuals and log-minus-log survival plots, and no significant violation was observed. Model fitness was evaluated using the Cox&ndash;Snell residual goodness-of-fit test, which indicated that the final model adequately fitted the data. Statistical significance was declared at p &lt; 0.05.</p>\n\n<p><strong>Results</strong>: The response rate was 83.9%. The mean age of participants was 38.6 &plusmn; 12.4 years. The median time to biochemical euthyroidism was 6 months, based on Kaplan&ndash;Meier survival analysis. Rural residence (AHR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.92) and higher baseline FT4 levels (AHR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90, 0.98) were significantly associated with delayed time to euthyroidism.</p>\n\n<p><strong>Conclusion and recommendation</strong>: Although a substantial proportion achieved euthyroidism early, variability in response resulted in a broader distribution of time to normalization. Rural residence and higher baseline FT4 levels were significant predictors of delayed response. Strengthening early diagnosis, improving follow-up systems, and enhancing rural healthcare access are essential to improve treatment outcomes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Toxic goiter, biochemical euthyroidism, survival analysis, Ethiopia</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>", 
  "title": "PREDICTORS OF TIME TO BIOCHEMICAL EUTHYROIDISM IN TOXIC GOITER PATIENTS TREATED WITH ANTI-THYROID DRUGS: A FIVE-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY", 
  "type": "thesis", 
  "id": "25793"
}