Quality of life after thyroid surgery in women with benign euthyroid goiter: influencing factors including Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
BACKGROUND
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is associated with decreased quality of life (QoL). Thyroid surgery could hypothetically lead to an increase in QoL.


METHODS
In a follow-up analysis of a prospective cohort study that included euthyroid women undergoing thyroid surgery for benign thyroid disease, 248 patients were willing to answer the SF-36 QoL questionnaire.


RESULTS
At follow-up after a median of 26 months, only the SF-36 module of "bodily pain" had increased (P = .046). Preoperative anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody levels were positively correlated with increasing QoL in the SF-36 modules "bodily pain" (P < .001) and "role emotional" (P < .001). For the presence of histologically confirmed Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a significant positive correlation (P < .001) was found for all modules apart from "physical functioning."


CONCLUSIONS
In women with benign euthyroid goiter, thyroid surgery does not lead to an overall improvement in health-related QoL. It should not be recommended for patients with elevated anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody levels. Patients with histologically confirmed Hashimoto's thyroiditis might benefit in terms of QoL.
Second Department of Surgery "Kaiserin Elisabeth", Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Vienna, Austria; Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Regina
R
Promberger
Second Department of Surgery "Kaiserin Elisabeth", Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Vienna, Austria.
Michael
M
Hermann
Second Department of Surgery "Kaiserin Elisabeth", Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Vienna, Austria.
Shanon Joan
SJ
Pallikunnel
Second Department of Surgery "Kaiserin Elisabeth", Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Vienna, Austria; Department of Craniomaxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Rudolf
R
Seemann
Second Department of Surgery "Kaiserin Elisabeth", Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Vienna, Austria.
Moritz
M
Meusel
Second Department of Surgery "Kaiserin Elisabeth", Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Vienna, Austria; Department of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: johannes.ott@meduniwien.ac.at.
Johannes
J
Ott
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000601:surgery*; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Anti–thyroid peroxidase antibodies; Autoimmune thyroiditis; Hashimoto's thyroiditis; Quality of life; Thyroidectomy