ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The treatment of hyperthyroid Graves' disease (GD) varies considerably among geographic areas. In this study, we aimed to evaluate practice patterns and treatment outcomes in Thai patients with hyperthyroid GD. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study over 35 years (1985-2019) in patients with hyperthyroid GD was conducted. The trends of treatment options were compared periodically during the study period and the overall remission rate from each option was determined. RESULTS: A total of 2736 hyperthyroid GD patients were treated and followed-up for at least 3 months over the study period (female 82.0%, mean age at diagnosis 36.3 ± 12.0 years, median duration of follow-up 74.5 months). Anti-thyroid drug (ATD) was the most commonly used treatment (78.0%), followed by RAI (21.0%), and surgery (1.0%). There was a significant downward trend for surgery, from 12.3% in the 1980s to only 0.2% in last phase of the study period. The preference for RAI therapy has also decreased in the last 5 years. Among ATD-treated patients, the remission rate was achieved only in 30.7 and 16.0% of all ATD-treated patients were eventually treated with RAI. Spontaneous hypothyroidism developed in 2.7% of the ATD-treated patients during a follow-up period. Almost all RAI-treated patients (97.1%) developed hypothyroidism. CONCLUSIONS: Our present study highlighted the changing landscape of primary treatments for hyperthyroid GD toward ATD and the sharp downward trend in the surgical option. Even though ATD was associated with a low remission rate, it was preferred by many patients and physicians. The use of RAI as the primary treatment decreased in the last decade. However, RAI was a very effective treatment for Graves' hyperthyroidism but will inevitably induce hypothyroidism and a requirement for life-long replacement therapy.
ABSTRACT
Trends in influenza and pneumococcal vaccine coverage in Thai patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus 2010-2018: Experience from a tertiary diabetes center in Bangkok. BACKGROUND: Routine vaccination is an important part of preventive services in treating patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). There are no available data in temporal trends of vaccination coverage rates in both influenza and pneumococcal vaccines among Thai patients with T2DM. AIM: This study aimed to elucidate influenza and pneumococcal vaccination trends and to identify factors that affect vaccination rates in those patients. METHOD: A retrospective study of randomly medical records stratified by 13 diabetologists was conducted in patients with T2DM from 2010 to 2018 at Theptarin Hospital, a private multi-disciplinary diabetes center in Bangkok. Adherence to influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations according to current guidance on adult immunization in Thailand had been studied. The rate of both vaccinations from each diabetologist had also been recorded. RESULTS: A total of 2114 medical records (female 51.7%, mean age 65.2 ± 12.8 years, BMI 26.5 ± 4.6 kg/m2, A1C 7.1 ± 1.3%, median duration of diabetes 13 years) were retrospectively reviewed covering a 9-year period. We audited 3554 selected outpatient visits for influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations rates as key performance index in each year. The overall vaccination rate was 39.6% for influenza, 17.4% for the pneumococcal vaccine, and only 13.7%, for both vaccines. The trends of influenza vaccination rates increased from 32.9% in 2010 to 52.2% in 2018 but the trends of pneumococcal vaccination rates were relatively stable at less than 20%. The rate of both vaccinations varied considerably from 0 to 44% among our diabetologists. Age ≥ 65 years, duration of DM ≥ 15 years, the presence of chronic respiratory disease, and moderate to severe Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score were positively associated with both received vaccinations. CONCLUSIONS: The completeness and timeliness of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations were unsatisfactory in Thai patients with T2DM. More efforts are needed to increase both influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To present our 30-year experience with type 1 diabetes in adults treated at Theptarin hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. @*Methodology@#A retrospective study was conducted on medical records of patients with type 1 diabetes in Theptarin hospital between 1983 and 2013. Clinical characteristics, glycemic control, and complications were retrieved and compared between patients who developed complications and those who have remained free of complications. @*Results@#There were 129 T1DM patients who attended our hospital during the three decades. Two patients died from sepsis and leukemia. Only 70 patients are still active on follow-up (median time of follow-up 11.1 years, range 0.3-29.2 years). In the active follow-up cohort, the mean age of onset was 25.3(12.4) years and duration of diabetes was 14.4(10.0) years. The mean HbA1c and LDL were 7.9(1.4%) and 99(30) mg/dl respectively. Optimal glycemic control (HbA1c ≤ 7%), LDL control (LDL≤ 100 mg/dl), and target blood pressure (BP ≤ 130/80 mmHg) were achieved in 31%, 54%, and 97% of patients respectively. The optimal combined target values for glucose, LDL, and blood pressure were achieved in only 17% of patients. The cumulative incidence of retinopathy, nephropathy, and cardiovascular disease were 17%, 19%, and 0.4%, respectively. Only longer duration of diabetes was associated with increased risk of development of microvascular complications. @*Conclusions@#Despite advancement in the treatment of diabetes, optimal glycemic control has not been achieved in most adult patients with T1DM. Microvascular complications have been observed in about one fifth of patients. Intensive therapy should be implemented as early as possible in order to ameliorate long-term complications of diabetes
