Benefits of Long-Term Continuation of Low-Dose Methimazole Therapy in the Prevention of Recurrent Hyperthyroidism in Graves’ Hyperthyroid Patients: A Randomized Prospective Controlled Study
Table 3
Univariate analysis of factors associated with recurrent hyperthyroidism in 173 Graves’ hyperthyroid patients who were eligible for analysis at the end of the study.
Factors
Hazard ratio
value
95% CI
Continuation of low-dose methimazole
0.270
0.002
0.116–0.617
Age onset of hyperthyroidism before 40 years old
3.676
0.001
1.657–8.157
Family history of hyperthyroidism
2.466
0.032
1.078–5.640
Sex
1.289
0.635
0.453–3.670
History of smoking
0.043
0.612
0–73.578
Goiter size at randomization∗
0.676
0.082
0.318–1.436
Thyroid bruit at randomization
1.492
0.454
0.524–4.252
Ophthalmopathy at randomization∗∗
0.589
0.322
0.027–1.677
Dermopathy at randomization
0.049
0.705
0.00–292401
Serum TT3 at first diagnosis of hyperthyroidism
1.645
0.113
0.55–4.918
Serum TT4 at first diagnosis of hyperthyroidism
0.916
0.157
0.295–2.842
Serum TT3/TT4 at first diagnosis of hyperthyroidism
1.246
0.566
0.588–2.637
Antithyroglobulin antibody at first diagnosis of hyperthyroidism
0.043
0.374
0.00–43.686
Antimicrosomal antibody at first diagnosis of hyperthyroidism
1.343
0.530
0.535–3.371
Duration of methimazole therapy before randomization
0.988
0.257
0.968–1.009
∗Goiter size was assessed clinically using the 1960 WHO palpation system [16]. ∗∗Patients with eye symptoms suggesting the presence of severe and active ophthalmopathy were not included.
