Kawkgi, Omar El

Abstract Introduction: Optimal initial antithyroid drugs (ATD) dosing may achieve rapid improvement in thyroid hormone levels while minimizing risk of adverse events. As ATD have become the most common first line therapy for the treatment of Graves’ disease (GD), we examined trends over time in initial ATD dosing, and the association between guideline-based ATD dosing with time to normalization of FT4 and frequency of adverse events. Methods: This is a single cohort retrospective study in Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. We identified adults (≥18 years old) diagnosed with new onset GD between January 1, 2002-December 31, 2019 treated with at least 14 days of ATD and with available initial follow up data within 3 months prior to a dose change. Propylthiouracil (PTU) doses were converted to Methimazole (MMI) equivalents at 10:1 ratio. Guideline concordant care was defined as initial ATD dosed based on 2016 American Thyroid Association guidelines (i.e. 5-10 mg for presenting FT4 between >1.7-2.55 ng/dL, 10-20 mg for 2.56-3.40 ng/dL, and 30-40 mg for 3.41 ng/dL and above). Based on the first follow up FT4 values, patients were grouped into categories of: normal range (FT4 0.9-1.7 ng/dL) and under treated (FT4 >1.7 ng/dL). Results: 398 patients were included; mean (SD) age was 49 years (16.6), and 75% were women. Mean initial (SD) Free T4 value was 3.9 ng/dL (2.8), with patients treated with ATD at mean (SD) starting dose of 21.9 mg (13.3) MMI equivalent. Over time there was a decrease in the starting ATD dose from 30 mg MMI equivalent in 2002-2004 to 20 mg in 2017-2019, despite steady presenting FT4 values (2.7 ng/dL in 2002-2005 and 3.1 ng/dL in 2017-2019). In the subset of 340 patients with overt hyperthyroidism, 181 (53%) received guideline concordant (GC) dosing. Patients receiving GC care had a higher initial FT4 (4.9 vs. 3.6 ng/dL, p=0.002), larger goiters (40 vs. 30 g, p<0.001) and higher initial ATD mean dose (SD) 25 mg (15.7) vs. 21.3 mg (9.9), p= 0.05. However at follow up (median 32 days vs 35 days respectively), both groups had similar proportion of patients with normal FT4 values (43% vs. 42%, p=0.79); undertreated patients (45% vs. 45%, p=0.99) and frequency of adverse events (4% vs. 6%, p=0.40). Conclusion: The initial dose of ATD for the treatment of GD has decreased over the past 2 decades. Most clinicians initiate ATD at a dose concordant to guidelines. Despite this, a significant proportion of patients have persistent hyperthyroidism on initial follow up. In light of evidence of risks associated with duration of hyperthyroidism, strategies to improve optimization of initial dosing are needed. Pending further subgroup analysis by presenting FT4 severity, these preliminary results suggest and approach factoring other variables apart from guideline based initial ATD dose is needed to optimize response. Our data will be utilized to pilot an individualized, patient specific predictive model to guide initial dosing to this end.

Abstract Purpose: Diabetes care has largely focused on reducing the risk of complications by achieving hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) targets; yet, whole-person care may be more effective and desirable. We sought to determine the nature of discussions about quality of life, burden of treatment, hypoglycemia, sexual function, and social support during diabetes-focused clinical encounters.Methods: We analyzed 41 previously recorded clinical encounters with patients with type 2 diabetes from the control arms of practice-based trials of shared decision making. Two coders evaluated videos for discussions about aspects of life with diabetes: quality of life, burden of treatment, hypoglycemia, sexual function, and social supports. When an aspect was raised, coders evaluated the nature of the conversation, clinician responses, and time spent on discussing the aspect. Results: Median length of the encounter was 15 minutes, 6 seconds (IQR: 11:16 – 20:23 minutes). Thirty five of 41 encounters (85.4%), included some discussion of quality of life (58.5%), burden of treatment (51.2%), social support (2.4%), or hypoglycemia (9.8%). Sexual function was not discussed. On average, 4.5% (1.4%-5.5%) of the encounter time involved conversations about HbA1c whereas 15.0% (0%-25%) of the encounter was spent on some aspect of quality of life, burden of treatment, social support, or hypoglycemia. If a topic related to quality of life was raised, clinicians most often responded by acknowledging patient’s concern without providing a solution (45.8%). Conclusions: A significant part of the patient-clinician encounter involves discussion of quality of life and burden of treatment, but clinicians rarely address these issues by providing solutions.

AbstractBackgroundThe management of Graves' disease (GD) in the US is shifting towards increased use of anti‐thyroid drugs (ATD). If patients fail to achieve remission after a standard course of therapy of 12–18 months, long‐term treatment with ATD (≥24 months) may be chosen over definitive therapy with radioiodine (RAI) or surgery. Clinicians will need to contrast this strategy to ablative therapies as they help patients in decision making.SummaryReview of the literature illustrates that long‐term ATD delivers euthyroidism with minimal complications, low financial cost and with an advantageous profile regarding quality of life (QoL) and other biological outcomes.ConclusionsLong‐term ATD is a viable alternative to ablative therapies in the management of GD offering advantages across multiple patient centred outcomes. Decision making must factor differences in this approach compared to ablative therapies and ultimately be tailored to individualized patient situations.