THE IMPACT OF GENDER, AGE AND BODY MASS INDEX ON THE SEQUELAE OF AMIODARONE THERAPY

Manaf Ibrahim Salih*, Hazim Allawi Mohammed and Khalid Ghanim Hameed

ABSTRACT

Background: Amiodarone is a widely used antiarrhythmic agent, but its high iodine content and lipophilic nature are associated with thyroid dysfunction, including hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis. While dose-related toxicity is well-documented, the influence of patient-specific factors such as gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) on thyroid sequelae remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of these factors on thyroid dysfunction during amiodarone therapy. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 46 adult patients receiving amiodarone for at least 90 days. Thyroid function tests (TSH, FT3, FT4) were analyzed, and patients were categorized as euthyroid or hypothyroid based on laboratory criteria. Demographic and treatment-related variables, including sex, age, and BMI, were compared between groups using statistical tests (t-tests, Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square). Results: Of the 46 patients, 47.8% developed hypothyroidism, characterized by significantly elevated TSH (7.61 vs. 2.96 mIU/L, *p* = 0.0001) and reduced FT4 levels (11.73 vs. 14.74 pmol/L, *p* = 0.002). Thyroid dysfunction occurred across both sexes, with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.2). However, a slightly higher proportion of females (54.5%) developed hypothyroidism compared to males (45.5%). Conclusion: Amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism is common but not significantly influenced by gender, age, or BMI. These findings underscore the importance of routine thyroid function testing to mitigate adverse effects, regardless of patient demographics.

Keywords: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of these factors on thyroid dysfunction during amiodarone therapy.