The Hyperthyroidism Research and Outcomes Information Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Hyperthyroidism Research and Outcomes Information Study (THYROID)
IRAS ID
342929
Contact name
Onyebuchi Okosieme
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Society for Endocrinology
Duration of Study in the UK
10 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Hyperthyroidism or thyroid gland over-activity affects about 1% of the population and most cases are due to Graves’ disease which predominantly affects women in their productive years of life. Uncontrolled disease is associated with significant morbidity and carries long-term risks for cardiovascular and bone disease. Furthermore, Graves’ disease may be complicated by thyroid eye disease (TED) a disfiguring condition which impairs vision and quality of life.
Antithyroid drugs (ATDs), radioactive iodine (RAI), and thyroidectomy have been successfully used to treat hyperthyroidism for over 70 years. However, current treatment strategies for people with hyperthyroidism vary across centres in the UK and are not consistent with National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. Although RAI is the primary treatment recommended by NICE, concerns have been raised regarding cancer risk after RAI treatment for hyperthyroidism.
There is therefore a need for treatment-related outcome information in patients treated for hyperthyroidism in order to improve patient care and ultimately equip patients and their clinicians with the confidence to use safe and effective therapies for hyperthyroidism. To date, such data in the UK have been limited to regional datasets that may not reflect the breadth of practice in the country, and may neglect important patient subsets, including younger patients, patients with TED, and individuals with rarer causes of hyperthyroidism such as Resistance to Thyroid Hormone-β (RTH-β) which carries similar cardiovascular risks to Graves’ disease.
The Hyperthyroidism Research and Outcomes Information Study (THYROID) is a national clinical audit and research study that will evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and outcomes of existing hyperthyroidism treatments across UK centres. Prospective surveys will audit patient reported outcome measures (PROMS) while retrospective data linkage studies will evaluate treatment trends and outcomes including long-term risks of mortality, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and orbital complications.REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/WM/0010
Date of REC Opinion
28 Jan 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion