Since the consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism was announced at the 2013 Korean Thyroid Association meeting, there have been numerous changes in clinical practice environments and various research findings presented over a decade. According to the Korean Thyroid Association (KTA) FACT SHEET released in 2021, the prevalence of hyperthyroidism in Korea was reported to be 304 per 100,000 population, with the incidence showing a slight decrease from 54 per 100,000 population in 2003 to 40 in 2018. The main treatments for hyperthyroidism include antithyroid medications, radioactive iodine therapy, and thyroidectomy, with the rate of radioactive iodine therapy in Korea reported to be lower compared to the United States and Europe. This is believed to be due to differences in healthcare systems among countries, variations in the perception of radioactive iodine therapy among physicians and patients, and recent research findings on the long-term safety of antithyroid medications.
Therefore, the KTA Guidelines Development Committee focused on radioactive iodine therapy in the diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism, aiming to create "Recommendations for the Treatment of Hyperthyroidism with Radioactive Iodine" starting in 2022, receiving recommendations from relevant societies with a total of 12 committee members. They aimed to deeply delve into the status, indications, preparation process, safety, and efficacy of radioactive iodine therapy in hyperthyroidism.
The guideline recommendations are being developed based on the guidelines of the KTA in 2013, the American Thyroid Association in 2016, and the European Thyroid Association in 2018, with additional incorporation of subsequent randomized controlled trials, large cohort studies, and meta-analyses. Additionally, survey results targeting Korean Thyroid Association members on the actual prescription practices of radioactive iodine therapy in hyperthyroidism patients and members' preferences will be shared. We sincerely thank the professors who have generously assisted us for over a year.