Chronos and Crisis: The Dangers of Delayed Treatment in Thyroid Strom : A Case Series

Thyroid storm, a critical and life-threatening exacerbation of hyperthyroidism, has a high mortality rate ranging from 8-25%, despite advancements in treatment. Incidence of 0.57 to 0.76 cases per 100,000 annually in the general population and 4.8 to 5.6 cases per 100,000 per year in hospitalized patients. This retrospective case series investigates patients diagnosed with thyroid storm at a tertiary care hospital over ve years, focusing on cases with treatment delays exceeding 12 hours. Common triggers included infection, trauma, and abrupt discontinuation of antithyroid medications. The analysis revealed an average diagnostic delay of 18 hours, leading to severe complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), cardiac arrhythmias, and prolonged ICU stays. One patient succumbed to multi-organ failure. These ndings highlight the critical need for rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment initiation to mitigate severe outcomes and reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with thyroid storm. Enhanced clinical awareness and timely intervention are imperative for improving patient prognosis.