Treatment of patients with Graves' disease in Sweden compared to international surveys of an 'index patient'

• Introduction The treatment strategies for a 42-year-old female index patient with moderate Graves' disease (GD) vary according to several international surveys. The important question whether surveys of treatment preferences in theoretical patient cases also match how real patients are treated has not yet been addressed. Materials and Methods From a Swedish cohort of 1186 GD patients (TT-12 cohort), 27 women were identified using the same criteria as from the index patient surveys from the European and American Thyroid Associations. This 'index patient cohort' was age 40-45, otherwise healthy female, with two children and uncomplicated GD. The applied first-line treatment of the patients in the index cohort, together with its variations, was compared with the treatment preferences according to international surveys. A comparison with the TT-12 cohort was also performed. Results In the 'Index cohort', 77.8% were treated with antithyroid drugs (ATD), and 22.2% were treated with radioiodine (I-131). This preference for ATD is in line with most countries/regions, with the exception of USA and the Middle East/North Africa, where I-131 was preferred. The distribution of treatment in the TT-12 cohort did not significantly differ from the index cohort. ATD was the preferred treatment in male and young (age 19-22) patients, as was RAI in old (age 69-73) patients. The age-related, but not the gender-related, cases differed significantly from the entire TT-12 cohort. Conclusion The treatment choice in an index patient in Sweden seems in line with European practice, where ATD is the preferred first choice. This differs compared to US and North African survey intentions, where I-131 is more often used. Age more than gender influences the treatment choice of GD patients. This is, to our best knowledge, the first time an index patient from 'real life' has been presented and compared to treatment preferences of international thyroid association surveys.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Endokrinologi och diabetes (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Endocrinology and Diabetes (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

antithyroid drugs

Graves' disease

hyperthyroidism

index patient

international surveys

long-term follow-up

radioactive iodine

thyroidectomy

treatment options

clinical-practice patterns

case selection

new-zealand

management

hyperthyroidism

therapy

ophthalmopathy

diagnosis

trends

japan

Endocrinology & Metabolism

Graves’ disease

Graves’ disease

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