Hyperthyroidism therapy: What can decision support systems already achieve?

Currently, only a few theoretical support systems exist for the treatment of hyperthyroidism. They are typically not practically applicable and solely focus on Graves’ disease. The recently developed DigiThy software framework can be used to assist physicians for methimazole dose titration during the treatment of Graves’ disease. In this study, a pool of 60 virtual patients was created to compare physicians’ individual treatment approaches by 8 different physicians and students (including three colleagues, unexperienced with care of Graves’ disease) with the decision support system DigiThy in terms of already defined performance indices. These indices are used to assess the deviation of FT4 from the reference range throughout the treatment. The computer aided treatment algorithms outperformed the usual care approach according to different prespecified criteria for treatment success. Two out of the three unexperienced colleagues improved their treatment success over time, i.e. with more patients treated. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the DigiThy software may be a useful tool for use as a decision support system in routine care of patients with Graves’ disease, while also serving as an effective training tool for the education of physicians. Randomized controlled studies are required before implementation of DigiThy in daily clinical practice.