Risk of Diabetes in Patients with Long-Standing Graves’ Disease: A Longitudinal Study
- Author:
Eyun SONG
1
;
Min Ji KOO
;
Eunjin NOH
;
Soon Young HWANG
;
Min Jeong PARK
;
Jung A KIM
;
Eun ROH
;
Kyung Mook CHOI
;
Sei Hyun BAIK
;
Geum Joon CHO
;
Hye Jin YOO
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Endocrinology and Metabolism 2021;36(6):1277-1286
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:The detrimental effects of excessive thyroid hormone on glucose metabolism have been widely investigated. However, the risk of diabetes in patients with long-standing hyperthyroidism, especially according to treatment modality, remains uncertain, with few longitudinal studies.
Methods:The risk of diabetes in patients with Graves’ disease treated with antithyroid drugs (ATDs) for longer than the conventional duration (≥2 years) was compared with that in age-and sex-matched controls. The risk was further compared according to subsequent treatment modalities after a 24-month course of ATD: continuation of ATD (ATD group) vs. radioactive iodine ablation (RIA) group.
Results:A total of 4,593 patients were included. Diabetes was diagnosed in 751 (16.3%) patients over a follow-up of 7.3 years. The hazard ratio (HR) for diabetes, after adjusting for various known risk factors, was 1.18 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10 to 1.28) in patients with hyperthyroidism. Among the treatment modality groups, the RIA group (n=102) had a higher risk of diabetes than the ATD group (n=4,491) with HR of 1.56 (95% CI, 1.01 to 2.42). Further, the risk of diabetes increased with an increase in the ATD treatment duration (P for trend=0.019).
Conclusion:The risk of diabetes was significantly higher in patients with long-standing Graves’ disease than in the general population, especially in patients who underwent RIA and prolonged ATD treatment. Special attention to hyperglycemia during follow-up along with effective control of hyperthyroidism may be necessary to reduce the risk of diabetes in these patients.
