Sick leave in thyroid cancer patients

Traditionally, TSH stimulation in recovering thyroidectomy patients has been achieved using thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW); this often results in hypothyroidism, lowered quality of life and the taking of sick leave. rhTSH (Thyrogen®) is a modern equivalent for this. In their study, Borget et al seek to quantify the economic and budgetary effects of each treatment using the number of sick-leave days taken as a measure for comparison. Patients were recruited both prospectively and retrospectively; in total, 292 patients completed and returned a questionnaire, which formed the basis of the analysis. The calculated impact of taking sick leave was estimated to be €27 per day from the National Sickness Fund, and €193 of lost productivity per day upon the economy, for people of working status. The study found that patients treated with rhTSH were less likely to require sick leave either before or after the control point, and sick leave duration was also shorter in these patients. Indirect costs of sick leave were also seen to reduce by €1083 when rhTSH was used. The group conclude that compared to THW, rhTSH treatment is comparable in terms of diagnostic accuracy of disease recurrence; it avoids hypothyroidism and thus lowers the requirement for sick leave, reducing costs for patients and society. Borget I, Corone C, Nocaudie M, Allyn M, Iacobelli S, Schlumberger M, De Pouvourville G. European Journal of Endocrinology 156 531-538