Hyperthyroidism Patients Take Too Many Sick Leaves: Study

People with hyperthyroidism take sick leaves for longer durations than their healthy peers, according to a study.

Hyperthyroidism is an overactive condition of thyroid gland secreting excess amount of thyroid hormones like T3 and T4.  Graves's disease or goiter is common form of hyperthyroidism in which the thyroid gland swells up and the body's antibodies begins attacking the gland. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark found that eye complications resulted from Graves disease make hyperthyroidism patients remain absent from work for extended periods. These individuals have higher odds of quitting their jobs early and retire after developing severe disability.

The study led by Mette Andersen Nexø from the National Research Centre for the Working Environment and University of Copenhagen looked at 862 patients with thyroid conditions in 2007. Experts compared the number of sick leaves and disability pension claims made by these patients with that of 7,043 healthy participants using municipal and national records. The municipal bodies in the Denmark compensate wage losses of employees who were on sick leaves for over three weeks. Their data provided information on the total number of leaves and days lost by the subjects due to illness.

It was observed that the sick leaves taken for extended periods in a year by the patients suffering from eye complications from Graves's disease was seven times higher than healthy participants. The hyperthyroidism -related complications occurred within a year after diagnosis driving patients to miss going to work for many days. Even though the disease-related risks diminished gradually over the years the rate of absenteeism was twice high compared to healthy subjects. The chances of retiring on a disability pension were four times higher for hyperthyroidism patients.     

In addition, the study noted people with underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism took less time off from work although their recovery rate was slightly slower in the first year after diagnosis. However, these participants did not take too many sick leaves like those with hyperthyroidism.

"The findings demonstrate the potential socioeconomic effects thyroid conditions can have, but also indicate that socioeconomic effects diminish once the disorders are treated," Nexø said in a news release.

"It's important not only for patients, but for employers and society as a whole, to ensure that people who have thyroid conditions receive the medical care they need."

More information is available online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM).