Risk of cancer in long-term levothyroxine users: Retrospective population-based study

Abstract

Levothyroxine is a widely prescribed medication for the treatment of an underactive thyroid. The relationship between levothyroxine use and cancer risk is largely underdetermined. To investigate the magnitude of the possible association between levothyroxine use and cancer risk, this retrospective case-control study was conducted using Taiwan’s Health and Welfare Data Science Center database. Cases were defined as all patients who were aged ≥20 years and had a first-time diagnosis for cancer at any site for the period between 2001 and 2011. Multivariable conditional logistic regression models were used to calculate an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) to reduce potential confounding factors. A total of 601 733 cases and 2 406 932 controls were included in the current study. Levothyroxine users showed a 50% higher risk of cancer at any site (AOR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.46-1.54; P