Predictors of Long-Term Fatigue in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Nationwide Prospective Study
Authors' conclusion
This study found several predictors of long-term fatigue in DTC patients. One year after treatment, fatigue and poor mental health are particularly important predictors of long-term fatigue. TSH suppression does not explain fatigue in DTC patients.
Study context
- Population
- Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients treated with thyroidectomy and planned for radioiodine treatment, 2012–2017, Sweden
- Participants
- 351 patients
- Outcome
- Fatigue (SF-36 vitality subscale) 5 years after DTC treatment, predicted by variables measured at 1 year
- Follow-up
- 5 years
Methodological detailsnationwide
- Nationwide
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Predictors of 5-year fatigue (multivariable linear regression)
- Fatigue at year one (β)
- 0.66
- Fatigue at year one, P
- p < 0.001
- Worse mental health at year one (β)
- −0.41
- Worse mental health at year one, P
- p < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Univariable early predictors of 5-year fatigue
- Significant predictors: more comorbidities, higher body mass index (BMI), more bodily pain, worse mental health, more early fatigue, more sleep disturbance, negative view of life after DTC diagnosis, greater fear of cancer recurrence
TSH and fatigue (linear mixed models)
- TSH not a significant predictor of fatigue
- P = 0.161
Original publication
Predictors of Long-Term Fatigue in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Nationwide Prospective Study. Thyroid. Published 19 August 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →