Weight changes in patients subjected to total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer

Abstract

Abstract: 

Thyroid cancer usually affects overweight and obese patients. Total thyroidectomy is associated to weight gain, which in turn is linked to the need for dosage changes in treatment and more aggressive characteristics of the disease.

1- Analyze changes in weight and body mass index (BMI) in totally thyroidectomized patients. 2- Study pre and postsurgical weight changes according to age, sex, and treatment with levothyroxine (LT4).

This is a longitudinal analytic observational study. We examined 52 thyroidectomized patients. We recorded weight and pre and postsurgical BMI after 6 to 12 months (POP 6-12) and after 13 to 24 months (POP 13-24). We applied paired t-tests to intragroup and interperiod comparisons. Significance level was <0.05.

We evaluated 9 men (20%) and 43 women (80%). The age of women and men was X=52.5±15.2 and 46.4±16.3 years, respectively.

BMI (kg/m2): Women before surgery: 28±6.3; POP 6-12: 27.7±5.6 (p=0.79); POP 13-24: 27.9±6.6 (p=0.9). Men before surgery 27.5±2.9; POP 6-12: 26.8±1.7 (p=0.4); POP 13-24: 28.9±3.2 (p=0.08). The difference in BMI between sexes in all periods was p>0.05.

Weight (kg): Women before surgery: 71.9±15.6; POP 6-12: 71.3±13.9 (p=0.88), POP 13-24: 71.7±15.6 (p=0.73). Men before surgery: 83.7±9.7; POP 6-12: 86.4±9.4 (p=0.5); POP 13-24: 89.6±8.2 (p=0.08).

Weight (kg) by age group: <40 years old (n=11, 22%) before surgery: 67.4±19.1; POP 6-12: 68.7±19.8 (p=0.76); POP 13-24:70.3±19.8 (p=0.45). 40-59 years old (n=22, 43%) before surgery: 76.1±12.7; POP 6-12: 76±12.2 (p=0.9); POP 13-24: 77.1±12.2 (p=0.3). ≥60 years old (n=19, 35%) before surgery: 75.3±15.6; POP 6-12: 77± 3.2 (p=0.13); POP 13-24: 76±17.1 (p=0.65).

BMI (kg/m2) by age group: <40 years old before surgery: 23.7±3.8; POP 6-12: 23.9±3.7 (p=0.86); POP 13-24: 24.2±3.9 (p=0.4). 40-59 years old before surgery: 28.1±5.3; POP 6-12: 28.1±5.1 (p=0.9); POP 13-24: 28.6±5.9 (p=0.23). ≥60 years old before surgery: 30±6.3; POP 6-12: 30.5±4.7 (p=0.12); POP 13-24: 30±6.5 (p=0.62).

Weight (kg) according to presurgical LT4: With LT4 (n=19, 36%): before surgery: 73.6±14.9; POP 6-12: 74.9±14.7 (p=0.81); POP 13-24: 73.9±15.8 (p=0.69). Without LT4 (n=33, 64%): before surgery: 74.5±15.8; POP 6-12: 74.4±14.4 (p=0.36); POP 13-24: 76.3±16.5 (p=0.44).

The relationship between weight at 6 to 12 months and postsurgical LT4 dose was r= 0.01, p<0.05.

Our population was characterized by being overweight and obese and did not show postsurgical weight changes according to age, sex and previous treatment with LT4.

Higher postsurgical LT4 doses were inversely related to weight in the first postsurgical period.