Diaphragmatic ultrasound and pulmonary functions evaluation in thyroid patients: a case-control study

Abstract

Background

Dyspnea is a frequent symptom among patients with thyroid disorders. However, its actual causative mechanism is not clear. The diaphragm is the main inspiratory muscle and contraction of the diaphragm is essential for breathing, so any disorder that interferes with contractile muscle function can cause diaphragm dysfunction which is associated with dyspnea. The objective of study is to assess the effect of thyroid disorders on diaphragm excursion and thickness.

Results

Diaphragmatic excursion during tidal, deep, and sniff respiration were significantly decreased in patients with thyroid disorder in comparison to control and significantly decreased in hypothyroid patients (right tidal 1.42 ± 0.29, right deep respiration 5.07 ± 0.72, and sniff 2.15 ± 0.26 cm) than hyperthyroid patients (right tidal 1.61 ± 0.34, right deep respiration 5.63 ± 0.50, and sniff 2.67 ± 0.27 cm) and than the control group (right tidal 2.17 ± 0.27, right deep respiration 6.63 ± 0.33, right sniff 2.89 ± 0.19 cm). Diaphragmatic thickness at end tidal inspiration was significantly decreased in patients with thyroid disorder in comparison to control (p value < 0.05). There was negative correlation between diaphragmatic excursion and duration of disease.

Conclusion

Diaphragmatic excursion and thickness are affected in hypothyroidism compared to hyperthyroidism and control groups. There is significant negative correlation between diaphragmatic excursion and duration of disease in patients’ group. Respiratory symptoms are more frequent in hypothyroid patients.

Background

Thyroid hormones play an important role in regulating the function of various systems of the human body including cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, homoeostasis, and vascular tone through their effect on metabolism [1].

Dyspnea is a frequent symptom among patients with thyroid disorders. However, the underlying pathophysiological mechanism remains unclear, except when the patient has coexisting tracheal compression due to goiter or has cardiac failure [2].

The diaphragm is the master muscle for inspiration and represents two thirds of tidal volume. There is limitation in studies where diaphragmatic muscle strength, movement, and thickness have been assessed among patients with thyroid disorders. We reported results of our study in a case-control study of patients with uncontrolled hypothyroid and hyperthyroid disease demonstrating reduced diaphragm muscle strength in those patient categories by ultrasound.

Ultrasound evaluation of the diaphragm is simple, non-invasive, and widely used both in the clinical and research settings. The main variables that can be assessed using this technique include the static measurement of diaphragm thickness and the more dynamic evaluation of inspiratory diaphragm thickening fraction and excursion [3].

Thyroid disorders especially hypothyroidism have been known to affect the ear, nose, and throat region. The most common symptoms of rhinitis related to hypothyroidism are rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction due to an increase in sub mucosal connective tissue and hypertrophy of mucous glands [4].

Methods

This study was a case-control study which was conducted on one hundred and twenty subjects (aged 25–60 years). They were classified into three groups, forty patients with hypothyroidism, forty patients with hyperthyroidism, and forty age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers as control group. Written informed consents were signed by all recruited participants. Patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or organ failure; persons who cannot perform pulmonary function test; smokers; patients with any chest disease; and pregnant females were excluded (Figs. 1 and 2). All eligible patients were recruited from the endocrinology and internal medicine outpatient’s clinics of Al-Zahraa University Hospital through the period from January 2019 to January 2020.

Fig. 1

Bar chart between groups according to diaphragmatic execution

Fig. 2

Bar chart between groups according to pulmonary function test

All subjects were subjected to careful medical history including upper and lower respiratory symptoms and clinical examination including anthropometric measurements.

Biochemical analysis

Measurement of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (T3), and free thyroxine (T4) was done using Cobas e411 Hitachi Roche chemiluminescence technique. Normal ranges of TSH (0.270–4.20 uIu/mg), free T3 (3.10–6.80 pmol/l), and free T4 (12.00–22.00 pmol/l)

Spirometry

Spirometry was carried out on MEDISOFT-HYPERAIR compact + flow meter pulmonary spirometer testing—Belgium. Respiratory parameters measured included vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1st second (FEV1), forced expiratory flow rate 25–75% predicted (FEF25–75% predicted), and FEV1/FVC ratio. Spirometric indices were calculated using best out of 3 technically acceptable performances in accordance with the recommendations of the European Respiratory Society [5].

Assessment of diaphragmatic excursions and diaphragm thickness

Diaphragmatic excursions were measured in a supine position during tidal breathing and during deep and sniff breathing on the right and left sides by ultrasonography expressed in centimeters to cover the different physiological changes in lung volumes in relation to diaphragmatic activity. The machine used was ultrasound scanner (Sonoscape SSI6000, equipped with a 3.5 MHz curvilinear and 8 MHz linear probes, Nanshan, China). The diaphragmatic inspiratory excursion of each hemi-diaphragm was measured in M-MODE [6]. A right ascending subcostal scan between the anterior axillary line and the midclavicular line was performed. Diaphragm was evaluated in B-MODE, and respiratory excursions were assessed in M-MODE. Examination consisted of 3 measurements of the inspiratory phase at rest and after deep inspiration and sniff [7]. Measurements in patients and healthy controls were evaluated by the same operator, freezing the image of the diaphragmatic curve during the respiratory cycle and measuring the distance from the base of the curve to the apex [8]. Diaphragm thickness was measured in millimeters in the zone of apposition of the diaphragm to the rib cage. A linear 10-MHz probe was placed above the right 10th rib in the mid-axillary line. In this area, the diaphragm is observed as a three-layered structure: a non-echogenic central layer bordered by two echogenic layers (the peritoneum and the diaphragmatic pleurae) [9].

Statistical analysis

Recorded data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). Quantitative data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Qualitative data were expressed as frequency and percentage. Independent-samples t-test of significance was used when comparing between two means. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done when comparing between more than two means. Post hoc test, least significant difference (LSD) was used for multiple comparisons between different variables. Chi-square (χ²) test of significance was used in order to compare proportions between qualitative parameters. Binary logistic regression was used to predict the outcome of categorical variable based on one or more predictor variables. The confidence interval was set to 95% and the margin of error accepted was set to 5%. So, the probability (P value) < 0.05 was considered significant, P value < 0.001 was considered highly significant and P value > 0.05 was considered insignificant

Results

The results showed no statistically significant difference between hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and control groups as regards age (40.25 ± 9.98 in hyperthyroidism, 40.70 ± 8.87 in hypothyroidism, and 42.30 ± 8.95 in controls), sex (30 female and 10 males in hyperthyroidism, 24 female and 16 male in hypothyroidism, and 28 female and 12 male in controls) with female predominance in all groups, and body mass index (25.68 ± 2.55 in hyperthyroidism, 27.53 ± 2.34 in hypothyroidism, and 26.04 ± 3.40 in controls) (Table 1).

Table 1 Comparison between groups according to demographic data

This study revealed the presence of otolaryngeal and respiratory symptoms among patients’ groups as hoarseness of voice presents in 35% of hyperthyroid patients versus 60% of hypothyroid patients, rhinitis 0% versus 5%, dysphagia 18% versus 20%, cough 8% versus 12%, dyspnea 22% versus 22%, and wheezes 0% versus 12%, respectively, with significant difference. There was no statistically significant difference between hyperthyroid and hypothyroid patients as regards duration of the disease (16.50 ± 10.56 months versus 21.30 ± 10.15 months), respectively (Table 2).

Table 2 Comparison between groups according to upper and lower respiratory symptoms

There were highly statistically significant differences between hyperthyroid, hypothyroid patients, and control group as regards spirometric parameters: VC% predicted (94.15 ± 4.31, 76.90 ± 7.46 versus 102.65 ± 7.63, respectively), FVC% predicted (90.95 ± 4.47, 72.45 ± 7.46 versus 93.80 ± 3.56), FEV1% predicted (81.70 ± 14.54, 72.25 ± 11.65 versus 90.55 ± 2.95), FEV1/FVC (87.15 ± 5.74, 78.77 ± 5.87 versus 92.36 ± 4.85), and FEF25–75% predicted (72.30 ± 12.47, 72.00 ± 8.01 versus 82.70 ± 9.54) with significant decrease in hypothyroidism than hyperthyroidism than control group with p value < 0.001 (Table 3).

Table 3 Comparison between groups according to pulmonary functions tests, hormonal profile, diaphragmatic excursion, and diaphragmatic thickness

There were also highly statistically significant differences between hyperthyroid, hypothyroid patients, and the control group as regards hormonal profile: TSH (0.04 ± 0.06, 25.41 ± 9.50 and 2.48 ± 1.00 uIu/mg, respectively), free T3 (9.29 ± 2.48, 1.58 ± 0.79 and 4.49 ± 0.67 pmol/l), and free T4 (29.40 ± 4.57, 4.37 ± 2.46, and 15.75 ± 1.76 pmol/l) with p value < 0.001 (Table 3).

There was a highly statistically significant decrease in diaphragmatic excursion in hypothyroid patients than hyperthyroid patients and a highly statistically significant decrease in patients group than control group as right tidal breathing (1.61 ± 0.34, 1.42 ± 0.29 versus 2.17 ± 0.27 cm, respectively), right deep breathing (5.63 ± 0.50, 5.07 ± 0.72 versus 6.63 ± 0.33 cm), right sniff (2.67 ± 0.27, 2.15 ± 0.26 versus 2.89 ± 0.19 cm), left tidal breathing (1.42 ± 0.32, 1.30 ± 0.30 versus 2.18 ± 0.31 cm), left deep breathing (5.41 ± 0.55, 4.78 ± 0.66 versus 6.41 ± 0.41 cm), and left sniff (2.48 ± 0.23, 2.01 ± 0.31 versus 2.69 ± 0.23 cm), p value < 0.001 (Table 3, Fig. 3).

Fig. 3

Ultrasound measurement of diaphragmatic right tidal breathing

There was statistically significant decrease in diaphragmatic right end tidal inspiration thickness in hypothyroid patients than control group (2.69 ± 0.31 mm versus 2.89 ± 0.14 mm), p value 0.021 (Table 3).

Among hyperthyroid patients, this study revealed negative significant correlations between right tidal diaphragmatic breathing, right sniff, left tidal diaphragmatic breathing, left deep breathing, and duration of diseases. Also, there are negative significant correlations between diaphragmatic right end tidal inspiration and expiration thickness with age. There were positive significant correlations between left tidal diaphragmatic breathing and FEV1/FVC and FEF25–75% predicted (Table 4).

Table 4 Correlation between diaphragmatic excursion and diaphragmatic thickness with demographic data, duration of disease, and pulmonary function test in hyperthyroidism group

Among hypothyroid patients, this study revealed negative significant correlations between right tidal diaphragmatic breathing, right deep breathing, left deep breathing, and duration of the disease. There were positive significant correlations between left deep diaphragmatic breathing with VC% predicted and left sniff with FEF25–75% predicted (Table 5).

Table 5 Correlation between diaphragmatic excursion and diaphragmatic thickness with demographic data, duration of disease, and pulmonary functions test in hypothyroidism group

Multivariant logistic linear regression for predicting factors affecting diaphragmatic excursion in patients group showed that wheeze presence, FVC% predicted, FEV1% predicted, and TSH are independent predicting factors (Table 6).

Table 6 Logistic linear regression of the predictive factors for diaphragmatic excursion affection in patients’ group

Discussion

The present study is one of few studies that investigated the efficiency of diaphragmatic contractility by transthoracic ultrasound in both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients in comparison with healthy subjects. This study revealed that there was significant decrease in diaphragmatic movement in patients with thyroid disorders than control. This result is coincident with Goswami et al. [2] who studied 27 patients (19 females and 8 males) with active Graves’ disease to assess the clinical severity of dyspnea and the anatomical aspects (thickness and excursion) of the diaphragm at the disease presentation. They revealed that patients with active Graves’ disease have significant functional weakness of diaphragm muscle and that this weakness was marked during maximal respiratory maneuver, indicating a diminished diaphragmatic reserve which may cause the dyspnea on exertion among patients with thyrotoxicosis [2].

Also, this study revealed decrease in diaphragmatic end tidal inspiration thickness in hypothyroid group and this result is accepted as in normal individuals. Muscle fibers shorten with contraction and cause muscle thickening while in hypothyroidism, contraction is affected. Increase in diaphragmatic thickness during inspiration has been used as an indirect measurement of muscle fiber contraction [10]. This result can be explained that thyroid hormones have a significant effect on cellular metabolism, and their deficiency leads to disturbance of the normal functioning of the cell. Thyroxine (T4) deficiency leads to a decreased mitochondrial oxidative capacity, abnormal glycogenolysis, and an insulin-resistant state of the cell. This causes selective atrophy of type 2 muscle fibers (fast-twitching type) due to dependency on glycolysis for energy leading to the slowing of muscle contraction seen clinically in patients with hypothyroidism [11]. There is also a decrease in muscle carnitine in thyroid dysfunction patients leading to myopathic symptoms. The muscle affection in hypothyroidism is caused by transforming in muscle fibers from fast-twitching type 2 to slow-twitching type 1 fibers, deposition of glycosaminoglycans, weak contractility of actin-myosin units, low myosin ATPase activity, and low ATP turnover in muscle. It has been noticed that the degree of muscle weakness does not often correlate with the severity of thyroid hormone deficiency and this recommends that for associated impaired muscle function, structural muscle injury might have a role in the pathogenesis of muscle weakness [12].

The present study revealed positive significant correlation between right diaphragmatic excursion and FEV1/FVC and FEF25–75% in hyperthyroid patients and positive significant correlation between left deep diaphragmatic breathing with VC% and left sniff with FEF25–75% in hypothyroid patients which is coincident with the results of Adel et al. [13] that studied 107 healthy persons who came for routine preoperative lung function assessment or normal volunteers. Spirometry and diaphragmatic assessment by ultrasound for excursion and thickness were done for all persons; there were highly significant statistical increase in right diaphragmatic excursion and both right and left diaphragmatic thickness when FEV1 increases. A significant increase in left excursion and diaphragmatic thickness fraction (DTF) was also noticed with increased FEV1. However, there was significant decrease in DTF with increase in FVC% [13]. Our results also are in concordance with Youssuf et al. [14] who studied the role of transthoracic ultrasound in evaluating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on 60 male participants and found a statistically significant positive correlation between FEV1 and diaphragmatic excursion, but that study was on the right side only [14]. Similar results were observed by Eman et al. [15] who assessed diaphragmatic thickness, excursion, and fatigue in 45 asthmatic children (23 boys and 22 girls) with various clinical and functional grading at Ain Shams University Hospital, Cairo, and found that there was a positive correlation between FEV1 and diaphragmatic excursion and thickness [15].

This study revealed a high statistically significant difference between hyperthyroid, hypothyroid patients, and control group as regards spirometric parameters. Spirometric parameters were reduced in hypothyroidism in comparison to hyperthyroidism and controls which is coincident with Eman et al. [15] who studied 90 participants (30 patients with hyperthyroidism, 30 patients with hypothyroidism, and the remaining 30 were normal healthy volunteers as control) and found that all spirometric functional parameters were decreased (whether or not significant) among patients with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism compared with normal euthyroid controls and that more statistically significant respiratory functional impairment was noticed among patients with hypothyroidism than among those with hyperthyroidism [16].

The present study revealed negative correlation between diaphragmatic excursion and duration of diseases in patients’ group and negative correlation between diaphragmatic thickness and age in hyperthyroid group. To the best of our knowledge, these correlations were not investigated before.

The present study revealed associations between upper and lower respiratory symptoms in the form of hoarseness of voice, rhinitis, dyspnea, cough, and wheezes with thyroid disorders being more prevalent in hypothyroidism. These results agreed with Eman et al. [15] who found that respiratory symptoms were more frequent in hypothyroid than in hyperthyroid patients, especially cough, sputum production, and chest wheezes [16], and also with Basal et al. [4] who concluded that thyroid hormone receptors are present in nasal mucosa and that edema, inflammation, and vascular proliferation occur in nasal mucosa due to hypothyroidism [4]. Also, our results agreed with Goswami et al. who found that 88.8% of patients with active Graves’ disease had dyspnea [2]. The most frequent symptoms of rhinitis related to hypothyroidism are nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea, which are caused by an increase in submucosal connective tissue and hypertrophy of mucous glands. The pathophysiological mechanism of hormonal rhinitis associated with hypothyroidism has not been clearly identified [17].

Multivariant logistic linear regression of predicting factors affecting diaphragmatic excursion in hyperthyroidism versus hypothyroidism showed that presence of wheeze, FVC%, FEV1%, and serum TSH have a significant predicting value.

Conclusion

Diaphragmatic excursion and thickness are affected in hypothyroidism compared to hyperthyroidism and control groups. There is significant negative correlation between diaphragmatic excursion and duration of disease and positively correlated with VC, FEV1/FVC, and FEF25–75 among patients’ group, and respiratory symptoms were more frequent in hypothyroid in patients’ group.

Limitation of study

There is a need to conduct this study on a large number of patients and follow these patients after control of their hormonal profile to study the reversibility of diaphragmatic contractility affection. Further studies are recommended to find an easy, inexpensive biomarkers or tool to identify the diaphragmatic affection in thyroid patients and to guide therapeutic choices.