title: Does choice of therapy save costs and improve outcomes in hyperthyroid patients?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare cost of treating hyperthyroidism with antithyroid medications (ATD) versus radioactive iodine (RAI). As secondary outcome we also analyzed data in terms of remission rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective comparative analysis of hyperthyroid patients treated with ATD or RAI from January 2000 to December 2005. Cost of ATD, TSH. FT4, doctors visits; thyroid technetium scan and RAI treatment were calculated for the duration of treatment and for one year of follow-up after remission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 143 patients were included, with an average duration of follow-up of 32 months. Mean age was 41 +/- 15.5 years and M: F' ratio was 1: 2. More expenses were incurred in treating patients with ATD (Rs. 28,900 +/- 15 400 or US$ 481.67 +/- 256.67) than with RAI (Rs.18.800 +/- 15800 or US$313.33 +/- 263.33). The former cost Rs.10,100 (US$ 168.33) more, (p < 0.001; 95%). Remission rate in the RAI group were significantly higher than the ATD group (81.3% vs 49.5%, p = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of hyperthyroid patients with RAI is not only better in terms of remission of disease, but it is also a more cost effective modality, and should be considered as first line of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi.
authors.forename: Lubna M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Zuberi
authors.forename: Safia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Awan
authors.forename: Najmul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Jaweed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akhter
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jabbar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013956:Antithyroid Agents