Assessing national trends in indications for pediatric total thyroidectomy

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Endocrinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Total thyroidectomy (TT) is commonly performed in children for malignancy and Graves' disease (GD).
• The specific incidence of GD as an indication for pediatric TT is not well-established.
• Understanding trends in pediatric TT is crucial for healthcare planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine trends in pediatric total thyroidectomy (TT).
• To determine the incidence of Graves' disease (GD) as an indication for pediatric TT.
• To analyze patient characteristics associated with TT for GD.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) from 1997-2019.
• Conducted statistical analysis using univariate logistic regression and the Mann-Kendall Test.
• Calculated weighted national estimates for pediatric TT procedures.

Main Results:

• An estimated 4803 pediatric TTs were performed between 1997 and 2019.
• Graves' disease (GD) accounted for 25% of pediatric TT indications.
• Patients undergoing TT for GD were more likely to be female, Black, Hispanic, and from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Conclusions:

• Graves' disease (GD) is an emerging primary indication for pediatric total thyroidectomy (TT).
• Significant demographic and socioeconomic disparities exist among pediatric patients undergoing TT for GD.
• Further research is warranted to understand the drivers of these trends.