Evolution of Graves’s Disease: Impact of Socio-Demographic and Clinical Factors in Senegalese Subject

Abstract

Background: In Graves’s disease, there is a lack of description specific to the gender and age among sub-Saharan African subject. The objective was to evaluate the impact of gender and age on the profile of Graves’ disease in Senegalese subject in order to understand the evolution and improve the therapeutic choices. Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2017 (07 years) at Abass Ndao University Hospital (Senegal), focused on patients with Graves’ disease followed up under antithyroid drugs treatment for at least 18 months. Results: There were 244 men, 404 subjects between [0 - 25 years], and 101 subjects more than 50 years old. Factors associated with goitre size were male gender (p < 0.001), young age (p < 0.001). Graves orbitopathy was correlated with male gender (p = 0.015), and young age (p < 0.001). Among 580 patients who had stopped medical treatment after more than 18 months of follow-up, relapse involved in 30.3%. Durable remission was achieved in 38.8% of all included patients and 69.7% of subjects who had a cessation of medical treatment. The factors associated with sustained remission were female gender (p = 0.049), absence of orbitopathy (p = 0.011), small goiter (p < 0.001), advanced age (p = 0.006) and early start of the maintenance treatment (p = 0.006). Conclusion: In our Senegalese study, men and young patients are particularized by a trend of voluminous goitre and low rate of remission. These data remain a basis for predicting the outcome of medical treatment and make timely use of radical treatments such as surgery or irratherapy in the presence of risk factors for recurrence.