Y. Das1, C. Outwater1, R. Akhund1, J. Fazendin1 1University Of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Introduction: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation in the thyroid gland, is a prevalent condition amongst middle-aged females. Research indicates that patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are at an increased risk for thyroid cancer, however, this has not been studied on a national level. We aimed to investigate the demographic and racial disparities in the incidence of thyroid cancer amongst patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis following thyroid surgery.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the All of US database for patients diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and thyroid cancer and collected data including patient demographics, incidence of cancer, and thyroidectomy. RStudio was used for statistical analysis by using B-H correction tests with p-value set at 0.05 significance.
Results: A total of 1675 patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis were identified, of which a majority were White (89%, n=1498), and Female (88%, n=1478). There was a significant difference seen in the mean age of patients based on gender (51 years (F) and 57 years (M)) (p<0.001). Of these 1675 patients, 109 (6.5%) were diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and 29 (26.7%) underwent a total thyroidectomy. Similar trend was seen within these 109 patients, of which a majority were White (88%, n=96) and female (89%, n=98) (p<0.001). There was a significant difference seen in the mean age of these patients based on gender (48 years (F) and 60 years (M)) (p=0.03). Of these 109 patients, 29 underwent a total thyroidectomy, with a similar majority being White (93%, n=27) and female (86.2%, n=25) (p<0.001). There was also a significant difference in the mean age of patients who underwent total thyroidectomy based on gender (47 years (F) and 64 years (M)) (p=0.049).
Conclusion: Overall, this study highlights the significant demographic and racial disparities in the incidence of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and association with thyroid cancer. Female and White patients show a higher tendency for developing Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and thyroid cancer, and are also more likely to undergo total thyroidectomy. These differences may be caused by genetic predispositions, environmental factors, and varying access to healthcare. Our findings highlight the importance of surveillance of thyroid nodules in a patient diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.