A new study from Boston University has found that surgery may be a better long-term treatment for people with hyperthyroidism, especially when it comes to lowering the risk of death and heart problems.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland produces too much hormone, which can lead to serious heart-related issues.
Common treatments for hyperthyroidism include anti-thyroid medications, radioactive iodine therapy, and surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid gland. But until now, it’s been unclear which treatment works best in the long run. This new research helps answer that question.
The study looked at over 114,000 patients in Taiwan who were treated for hyperthyroidism between 2011 and 2020. The results showed that people who had surgery had a 47% lower risk of death and a 24% lower chance of serious heart problems compared to those who only took medication.
People treated with radioactive iodine also had a 55% lower risk of major heart issues compared to those on medication.
These findings suggest that surgery or radioactive iodine treatment may be more effective than medication alone, especially for people who already have a high risk of heart disease.
One reason surgery and radioactive iodine may be more effective is that they treat the problem more completely and quickly than medication, which can take longer to work and may not fully control symptoms.
Dr. Elizabeth Pearce, one of the lead authors of the study, explained that while the results are promising, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of each treatment. Future studies will help doctors better decide which treatment is best for each individual patient.
This research, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, could change the way doctors treat hyperthyroidism—especially for people who have or are at risk for heart disease. It shows the importance of choosing the right treatment not just for thyroid health, but also for protecting the heart.
If you’re concerned about heart health, you may also want to look into recent studies that show herbal supplements can affect heart rhythm and that eating eggs or yogurt might help lower the risk of heart disease. Drinking apple juice may also offer some benefits for heart health.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies about a big cause of heart failure, and common blood test could advance heart failure treatment.
For more health information, please see recent studies about a new way to repair human heart, and results showing drinking coffee may help reduce heart failure risk.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
