Abstract
Introduction: The diagnosis and management of subacute thyroiditis (SAT) may be challenging, and more evidence on patient and disease characteristics is warranted.
Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients in the North Denmark Region with a SAT diagnosis in the Danish National Patient Registry, 2016-2018. The medical records and biochemical results prior to the diagnosis and during a two-year follow-up period were reviewed.
Results: A total of 71 patients with a SAT diagnosis were identified, and the diagnosis was verified in 44 (62.0%) cases with an incidence rate of 2.4/100,000/year. Patients with verified SAT were predominantly females (72.7%) with a median age of 50.7 years. Biochemical results showed thyrotoxicosis at the initial examination in 69.8% and elevated C-reactive protein in 86.5% of patients. Longitudinal biochemical assessment showed a biphasic response (median thyroid-stimulating hormone, initially: 0.02 mIU/l, at three months: 4.7 mIU/l and 2.4 mIU/l after two years). Treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, beta-blockers and/or prednisolone was initiated in 23 of the 38 patients (60.5%) evaluated, and ten of 33 patients (30.3%) with follow-up data received thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
Conclusion: In the North Denmark Region, a hospital diagnosis of SAT was verified in less than two thirds of cases. Further large studies are warranted to extend the findings concerning the treatment and outcome of SAT.
Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients in the North Denmark Region with a SAT diagnosis in the Danish National Patient Registry, 2016-2018. The medical records and biochemical results prior to the diagnosis and during a two-year follow-up period were reviewed.
Results: A total of 71 patients with a SAT diagnosis were identified, and the diagnosis was verified in 44 (62.0%) cases with an incidence rate of 2.4/100,000/year. Patients with verified SAT were predominantly females (72.7%) with a median age of 50.7 years. Biochemical results showed thyrotoxicosis at the initial examination in 69.8% and elevated C-reactive protein in 86.5% of patients. Longitudinal biochemical assessment showed a biphasic response (median thyroid-stimulating hormone, initially: 0.02 mIU/l, at three months: 4.7 mIU/l and 2.4 mIU/l after two years). Treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, beta-blockers and/or prednisolone was initiated in 23 of the 38 patients (60.5%) evaluated, and ten of 33 patients (30.3%) with follow-up data received thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
Conclusion: In the North Denmark Region, a hospital diagnosis of SAT was verified in less than two thirds of cases. Further large studies are warranted to extend the findings concerning the treatment and outcome of SAT.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | A05230318 |
| Journal | Danish Medical Journal |
| Volume | 70 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| ISSN | 1603-9629 |
| Publication status | Published - 24 Oct 2023 |