Cancer Risks of Patients with Graves’ Disease Who Received Antithyroid Drugs as Initial Treatment: A Nationwide Population-Based Analysis
Authors' conclusion
In this large-scale population-based study, GD was associated with increased risks of biliary tract and pancreatic, prostate, ovarian, and thyroid cancers. The increased risk of thyroid cancer, particularly during the initial follow-up period, may be a surveillance effect.
Study context
- Population
- Adults aged >20 years with Graves' disease (GD) receiving antithyroid drugs (ATDs) as initial treatment and matched controls, National Health Information Database of South Koreamatched cohort
- Participants
- 29,502 vs 57,173
- Exposure
- GD treated initially with ATDs vs matched controls
- GDn = 29,502
- Controln = 57,173reference
- Outcome
- Incidence of various types of cancers
Methodological detailsnationwide, population-based, age- and sex-matched controls
- Nationwide
- Population-based
- Age- and sex-matched controls
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Cancer risk by type · excluding first year of follow-up
GD vs ControlHazard ratio (CI)
Biliary tract and pancreatic cancers
1.41(1.24–1.60)
Thyroid cancer
15.51(12.29–19.57)
Prostate cancer
1.48(1.28–1.71)
Ovarian cancer
1.31(1.13–1.52)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Thyroid cancer risk, initial follow-up period · 1 to <2 yearsHigher than in follow-up >2 years | 19.35 (7.66–48.87) | |
| 0.050.21520Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Cancer risk with follow-up >5 years
- Increased risk of these cancers persisted after >5 years of follow-up
Cancer risk excluding GD patients with subsequent RAI
- Cancer risk estimates remained significant after excluding patients who underwent subsequent RAI
Original publication
Cancer Risks of Patients with Graves’ Disease Who Received Antithyroid Drugs as Initial Treatment: A Nationwide Population-Based Analysis. Thyroid. Published 3 September 2024. doi:10.
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