Association Between Antibiotic Exposure and Thyroid Cancer: A Nationwide Cohort Study in South Korea
Authors' conclusion
Long-term antibiotic prescriptions and an increasing number of antibiotic classes may be associated with a higher risk of thyroid cancer in a duration-dependent manner.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals aged ≥20 years who participated in health screening (2005–2006), Korean National Health Insurance Service database; follow-up to December 31, 2019
- Participants
- 9,804,481 individuals
- Exposure
- Cumulative days of antibiotic prescription and number of antibiotic classes vs nonusers of antibiotics
- Outcome
- Thyroid cancer risk
Methodological detailsmultivariable Cox proportional hazards regression, 1:1 propensity score matching
- Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression
- 1:1 propensity score matching
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Thyroid cancer
Adjusted hazard ratio (CI)
≥365 daysvs Nonusersadjusted for age, smoking status, comorbidities incl. thyroid-related diseases, number of head and neck CT scans
1.71(1.66–1.78)
≥365 daysvs 1-14 days
1.37(1.34–1.40)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | aHR (CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Thyroid cancer by number of antibiotic classes5 or more antibiotic classesvs Nonusers | 1.71 (1.65–1.78) | |
| 0.512Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Association Between Antibiotic Exposure and Thyroid Cancer: A Nationwide Cohort Study in South Korea. Thyroid. Published 18 December 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →