A systematic review and meta-analysis of the etiology and treatment patterns of thyrotoxicosis in Africa

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Thyrotoxicosis is one of the most common endocrine disorders seen in clinical practice. This study aims to determine the etiologies and treatment modalities of thyrotoxicosis in Africa.

Areas covered

The study design is a systematic review with a meta-analysis. Medical databases and the gray literature were systematically searched following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies done in Africa on the etiology and treatment of thyrotoxicosis were selected.

Expert opinion

In Africa, it is still believed that autoimmune diseases, generally, are not as common as what is seen in the western world. The frequency of Graves’ disease is reportedly lower in Africa. The treatment of thyrotoxicosis depends on the cause. Therefore, it is of substantial importance to establish the etiology following the diagnosis of the clinical syndrome.

KEYWORDS:

• etiology
• treatment
• thyrotoxicosis
• hyperthyroidism
• Graves’ disease
• Africa
• Meta-analysis

Article highlights

• Graves’ disease is the most common cause of thyrotoxicosis in Africa

• The second most common cause of thyrotoxicosis in Africa is toxic multinodular goiter

• Thionamides are the most common treatment modality for thyrotoxicosis in Africa

• About one in five relapses on thionamides treatment following remission.

• Thyroidectomy and radioablative therapy are the second and third most common modalities for treating thyrotoxicosis in Africa, respectively.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17446651.2022.2136165

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.