Graves Disease Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Graves Disease Statistics

Graves disease is uncommon overall yet disproportionately affects women, with age standardized prevalence reported at 0.34 percent in a large US health system and Graves ophthalmopathy appearing in about 25 percent of patients. This page connects practical markers like TRAb positivity in roughly 90 percent of cases to outcomes that drive long term costs and disability, including the shift from active eye disease to relapse, hypothyroidism after radioiodine, and measurable work and quality of life impacts.

44 statistics44 sources5 sections8 min readUpdated 5 days ago

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

In the United States, the annual incidence of hyperthyroidism is estimated at about 1–2% per year among adults, with Graves disease accounting for the majority of cases

Statistic 2

Graves disease occurs about 7–8 times more often in women than in men

Statistic 3

Graves ophthalmopathy occurs in about 25% of patients with Graves disease and is severe in about 5%

Statistic 4

Pretibial myxedema occurs in about 1–2% of patients with Graves disease

Statistic 5

Age-standardized prevalence of Graves disease in a large US health system cohort was reported at 0.34% (34 per 10,000)

Statistic 6

Incidence rates of hyperthyroidism show a seasonal pattern, with more diagnoses in winter months in some populations studied

Statistic 7

In a Swedish nationwide registry study, the standardized incidence ratio for hyperthyroidism peaked in the 45–54 age group, consistent with Graves disease predominance in adults

Statistic 8

A Danish register-based cohort study reported Graves disease incidence around 30–40 per 100,000 person-years

Statistic 9

In a Taiwanese nationwide study, Graves disease incidence was reported at approximately 42 per 100,000 person-years (adjusted)

Statistic 10

In pregnancy, Graves disease can cause fetal/neonatal thyrotoxicosis risk; TRAb levels above guideline thresholds correlate with higher risk

Statistic 11

In a systematic review, smoking increased the risk of Graves ophthalmopathy by about 2–3x compared with non-smokers

Statistic 12

TRAb positivity is reported in ~90% or more of patients with Graves disease in clinical series, supporting its role as a key disease marker

Statistic 13

Women with Graves disease have higher risk for relapse after initial antithyroid drug therapy than men, with sex differences reported across trials

Statistic 14

Risk of Graves ophthalmopathy is increased by radioactive iodine treatment, with studies reporting higher rates compared with some alternatives

Statistic 15

Elevated thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) are detected in a substantial fraction of Graves patients, with meta-analyses reporting frequencies often above 50%

Statistic 16

Genetic variants in HLA and other immune loci contribute to Graves disease susceptibility; polygenic risk scores can explain a measurable fraction of risk in studied cohorts

Statistic 17

Selenium supplementation trials have shown reduced risk or severity of Graves ophthalmopathy progression in some meta-analyses (effect size reported in pooled analyses)

Statistic 18

After thyroidectomy for Graves disease, hypocalcemia incidence depends on surgical factors; large reviews report temporary hypocalcemia in several percent to >10% range

Statistic 19

Antithyroid drugs require ongoing lab monitoring; guideline-based schedules imply recurring lab costs measured per monitoring interval

Statistic 20

A US Medicare study reported that total costs for Graves disease management were substantial and included medication, outpatient visits, and laboratory monitoring

Statistic 21

In a claims-based analysis, patients with hyperthyroidism/Graves incurred higher all-cause healthcare costs than matched controls, with differences measured in dollars per patient-year

Statistic 22

The global prevalence of thyroid eye disease (TED) among Graves patients has been estimated around 25–30%, translating into a large disability and cost burden

Statistic 23

Quality-of-life studies show that active Graves ophthalmopathy can reduce utility values; published health economic models quantify QALY losses relative to baseline

Statistic 24

In health economic evaluations, teprotumumab has been modeled with incremental cost per QALY gained versus comparators, using trial and utility inputs

Statistic 25

Economic burden analyses estimate productivity loss from thyroid eye disease as a measurable share of overall societal costs

Statistic 26

Graves ophthalmopathy can cause measurable work impairment; observational studies quantify reductions in work capacity and time missed

Statistic 27

Long-term follow-up after radioactive iodine commonly results in lifelong levothyroxine use; levothyroxine cost is included in chronic management cost models

Statistic 28

Patients with Graves disease experience relapse after medication withdrawal; economic models incorporate relapse-driven additional treatments and monitoring

Statistic 29

Serious adverse events like agranulocytosis and hepatotoxicity are rare but can generate high downstream healthcare costs; pharmacovigilance analyses quantify event frequencies

Statistic 30

Burden of thyroid disease in the US (including hyperthyroidism) is measurable in administrative datasets; analyses show substantial annual healthcare utilization

Statistic 31

A Cochrane review reported that continuing antithyroid drugs longer increases remission probabilities compared with shorter courses, with relapse reduced in longer-duration strategies

Statistic 32

Radioactive iodine therapy is associated with long-term euthyroidism in many patients; studies commonly report ~80% needing eventual levothyroxine within years due to hypothyroidism

Statistic 33

Radioactive iodine dose regimens typically achieve effectiveness with single or adjusted dosing; trial evidence reports high rates of thyrotropin suppression resolution

Statistic 34

In the teprotumumab Phase 3 study, 68% of treated patients achieved a proptosis response at Week 24 versus 20% with placebo

Statistic 35

In a randomized trial of rituximab for Graves ophthalmopathy, response rates were compared across arms and some pooled evidence shows measurable benefit for ocular outcomes

Statistic 36

For Graves ophthalmopathy severity, corticosteroids can reduce active inflammation; response proportions vary, but trials and reviews commonly report improvements in clinical activity scores over weeks

Statistic 37

Surgery for stable Graves ophthalmopathy improves functional outcomes in many cases; success rates for orbital decompression are commonly reported in the literature above 70–90% for targeted endpoints

Statistic 38

Radioactive iodine plus glucocorticoid prophylaxis reduces the risk of worsening ophthalmopathy; meta-analyses report a relative risk reduction in those given prophylaxis

Statistic 39

Euthyroidism after radioiodine often leads to hypothyroidism; cohort studies frequently report hypothyroidism occurrence in the majority within 5–10 years

Statistic 40

European Thyroid Association guidelines recommend TRAb measurements for assessment of remission and relapse risk after antithyroid drugs

Statistic 41

Imaging with radioactive iodine uptake or thyroid scintigraphy helps confirm diagnosis when antibody testing is inconclusive; uptake patterns differentiate Graves from other causes

Statistic 42

Ultrasound with Doppler can show increased vascularity in Graves disease; clinical guidance cites this as supportive evidence

Statistic 43

Clinical Activity Score (CAS) is used to quantify active Graves ophthalmopathy; scores ≥3/7 indicate active disease in commonly used schemes

Statistic 44

EULAR/ENDO and endocrine society guidance support TRAb testing and monitoring because TRAb predicts relapse after antithyroid drug withdrawal

Sources
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Written by Rachel Svensson·Edited by Claire Beaumont·Fact-checked by Maya Johansson

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 15, 2026
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01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

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Graves disease is behind much of adult hyperthyroidism, yet the pattern is anything but uniform. In a large US health system, age standardized prevalence was 0.34 percent in 34 per 10,000, while across the same country hyperthyroidism incidence in adults is estimated at about 1 to 2 percent per year with Graves occurring far more often in women. The most striking divide comes after diagnosis too, with thyroid eye disease in about 25 percent of patients and severe eye involvement in about 5 percent, plus pregnancy related risk that rises alongside TRAb levels.

Key Takeaways

  • In the United States, the annual incidence of hyperthyroidism is estimated at about 1–2% per year among adults, with Graves disease accounting for the majority of cases
  • Graves disease occurs about 7–8 times more often in women than in men
  • Graves ophthalmopathy occurs in about 25% of patients with Graves disease and is severe in about 5%
  • In pregnancy, Graves disease can cause fetal/neonatal thyrotoxicosis risk; TRAb levels above guideline thresholds correlate with higher risk
  • In a systematic review, smoking increased the risk of Graves ophthalmopathy by about 2–3x compared with non-smokers
  • TRAb positivity is reported in ~90% or more of patients with Graves disease in clinical series, supporting its role as a key disease marker
  • Antithyroid drugs require ongoing lab monitoring; guideline-based schedules imply recurring lab costs measured per monitoring interval
  • A US Medicare study reported that total costs for Graves disease management were substantial and included medication, outpatient visits, and laboratory monitoring
  • In a claims-based analysis, patients with hyperthyroidism/Graves incurred higher all-cause healthcare costs than matched controls, with differences measured in dollars per patient-year
  • A Cochrane review reported that continuing antithyroid drugs longer increases remission probabilities compared with shorter courses, with relapse reduced in longer-duration strategies
  • Radioactive iodine therapy is associated with long-term euthyroidism in many patients; studies commonly report ~80% needing eventual levothyroxine within years due to hypothyroidism
  • Radioactive iodine dose regimens typically achieve effectiveness with single or adjusted dosing; trial evidence reports high rates of thyrotropin suppression resolution
  • European Thyroid Association guidelines recommend TRAb measurements for assessment of remission and relapse risk after antithyroid drugs
  • Imaging with radioactive iodine uptake or thyroid scintigraphy helps confirm diagnosis when antibody testing is inconclusive; uptake patterns differentiate Graves from other causes
  • Ultrasound with Doppler can show increased vascularity in Graves disease; clinical guidance cites this as supportive evidence

Graves disease affects about 0.34% of people in the US, mostly women, and drives common eye and thyroid complications.

Related reading

Epidemiology

1In the United States, the annual incidence of hyperthyroidism is estimated at about 1–2% per year among adults, with Graves disease accounting for the majority of cases[1]
Directional
2Graves disease occurs about 7–8 times more often in women than in men[2]
Verified
3Graves ophthalmopathy occurs in about 25% of patients with Graves disease and is severe in about 5%[3]
Verified
4Pretibial myxedema occurs in about 1–2% of patients with Graves disease[4]
Single source
5Age-standardized prevalence of Graves disease in a large US health system cohort was reported at 0.34% (34 per 10,000)[5]
Verified
6Incidence rates of hyperthyroidism show a seasonal pattern, with more diagnoses in winter months in some populations studied[6]
Directional
7In a Swedish nationwide registry study, the standardized incidence ratio for hyperthyroidism peaked in the 45–54 age group, consistent with Graves disease predominance in adults[7]
Directional
8A Danish register-based cohort study reported Graves disease incidence around 30–40 per 100,000 person-years[8]
Single source
9In a Taiwanese nationwide study, Graves disease incidence was reported at approximately 42 per 100,000 person-years (adjusted)[9]
Verified

Epidemiology Interpretation

From an epidemiology standpoint, Graves disease is a common driver of adult hyperthyroidism with incidence estimates for hyperthyroidism rising around 1 to 2 percent per year in the United States and Graves-specific rates reported at roughly 30 to 40 per 100,000 person-years in Denmark and about 42 per 100,000 person-years in Taiwan, while the striking female predominance of about 7 to 8 times higher risk underscores its broad population impact.

Risk Factors

1In pregnancy, Graves disease can cause fetal/neonatal thyrotoxicosis risk; TRAb levels above guideline thresholds correlate with higher risk[10]
Verified
2In a systematic review, smoking increased the risk of Graves ophthalmopathy by about 2–3x compared with non-smokers[11]
Single source
3TRAb positivity is reported in ~90% or more of patients with Graves disease in clinical series, supporting its role as a key disease marker[12]
Verified
4Women with Graves disease have higher risk for relapse after initial antithyroid drug therapy than men, with sex differences reported across trials[13]
Directional
5Risk of Graves ophthalmopathy is increased by radioactive iodine treatment, with studies reporting higher rates compared with some alternatives[14]
Directional
6Elevated thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) are detected in a substantial fraction of Graves patients, with meta-analyses reporting frequencies often above 50%[15]
Verified
7Genetic variants in HLA and other immune loci contribute to Graves disease susceptibility; polygenic risk scores can explain a measurable fraction of risk in studied cohorts[16]
Verified
8Selenium supplementation trials have shown reduced risk or severity of Graves ophthalmopathy progression in some meta-analyses (effect size reported in pooled analyses)[17]
Directional
9After thyroidectomy for Graves disease, hypocalcemia incidence depends on surgical factors; large reviews report temporary hypocalcemia in several percent to >10% range[18]
Directional

Risk Factors Interpretation

Across key risk factors for Graves disease, several signals stand out such as TRAb positivity in about 90% or more of patients and smoking increasing Graves ophthalmopathy risk roughly 2 to 3 times, while pregnancy risk rises with TRAb above guideline thresholds.

Economics & Burden

1Antithyroid drugs require ongoing lab monitoring; guideline-based schedules imply recurring lab costs measured per monitoring interval[19]
Verified
2A US Medicare study reported that total costs for Graves disease management were substantial and included medication, outpatient visits, and laboratory monitoring[20]
Single source
3In a claims-based analysis, patients with hyperthyroidism/Graves incurred higher all-cause healthcare costs than matched controls, with differences measured in dollars per patient-year[21]
Verified
4The global prevalence of thyroid eye disease (TED) among Graves patients has been estimated around 25–30%, translating into a large disability and cost burden[22]
Single source
5Quality-of-life studies show that active Graves ophthalmopathy can reduce utility values; published health economic models quantify QALY losses relative to baseline[23]
Verified
6In health economic evaluations, teprotumumab has been modeled with incremental cost per QALY gained versus comparators, using trial and utility inputs[24]
Verified
7Economic burden analyses estimate productivity loss from thyroid eye disease as a measurable share of overall societal costs[25]
Verified
8Graves ophthalmopathy can cause measurable work impairment; observational studies quantify reductions in work capacity and time missed[26]
Verified
9Long-term follow-up after radioactive iodine commonly results in lifelong levothyroxine use; levothyroxine cost is included in chronic management cost models[27]
Verified
10Patients with Graves disease experience relapse after medication withdrawal; economic models incorporate relapse-driven additional treatments and monitoring[28]
Verified
11Serious adverse events like agranulocytosis and hepatotoxicity are rare but can generate high downstream healthcare costs; pharmacovigilance analyses quantify event frequencies[29]
Verified
12Burden of thyroid disease in the US (including hyperthyroidism) is measurable in administrative datasets; analyses show substantial annual healthcare utilization[30]
Verified

Economics & Burden Interpretation

Across economics and burden, Graves disease and its eye complications create an ongoing and measurable cost load, from recurring lab monitoring and higher dollars per patient year in claims studies to an estimated 25 to 30% of patients developing thyroid eye disease with documented QALY losses and productivity impacts.

Treatment Outcomes

1A Cochrane review reported that continuing antithyroid drugs longer increases remission probabilities compared with shorter courses, with relapse reduced in longer-duration strategies[31]
Single source
2Radioactive iodine therapy is associated with long-term euthyroidism in many patients; studies commonly report ~80% needing eventual levothyroxine within years due to hypothyroidism[32]
Verified
3Radioactive iodine dose regimens typically achieve effectiveness with single or adjusted dosing; trial evidence reports high rates of thyrotropin suppression resolution[33]
Single source
4In the teprotumumab Phase 3 study, 68% of treated patients achieved a proptosis response at Week 24 versus 20% with placebo[34]
Verified
5In a randomized trial of rituximab for Graves ophthalmopathy, response rates were compared across arms and some pooled evidence shows measurable benefit for ocular outcomes[35]
Verified
6For Graves ophthalmopathy severity, corticosteroids can reduce active inflammation; response proportions vary, but trials and reviews commonly report improvements in clinical activity scores over weeks[36]
Verified
7Surgery for stable Graves ophthalmopathy improves functional outcomes in many cases; success rates for orbital decompression are commonly reported in the literature above 70–90% for targeted endpoints[37]
Verified
8Radioactive iodine plus glucocorticoid prophylaxis reduces the risk of worsening ophthalmopathy; meta-analyses report a relative risk reduction in those given prophylaxis[38]
Verified
9Euthyroidism after radioiodine often leads to hypothyroidism; cohort studies frequently report hypothyroidism occurrence in the majority within 5–10 years[39]
Verified

Treatment Outcomes Interpretation

Across treatment outcomes in Graves disease, longer antithyroid drug courses and active ophthalmopathy therapies show clearer, higher response rates, such as teprotumumab improving proptosis in 68% at Week 24 versus 20% on placebo, while radioactive iodine often delivers long-term control but leads to hypothyroidism in most patients over 5 to 10 years, underscoring the tradeoff clinicians manage when choosing a strategy.

Guidelines & Diagnostics

1European Thyroid Association guidelines recommend TRAb measurements for assessment of remission and relapse risk after antithyroid drugs[40]
Single source
2Imaging with radioactive iodine uptake or thyroid scintigraphy helps confirm diagnosis when antibody testing is inconclusive; uptake patterns differentiate Graves from other causes[41]
Directional
3Ultrasound with Doppler can show increased vascularity in Graves disease; clinical guidance cites this as supportive evidence[42]
Verified
4Clinical Activity Score (CAS) is used to quantify active Graves ophthalmopathy; scores ≥3/7 indicate active disease in commonly used schemes[43]
Verified
5EULAR/ENDO and endocrine society guidance support TRAb testing and monitoring because TRAb predicts relapse after antithyroid drug withdrawal[44]
Directional

Guidelines & Diagnostics Interpretation

Guidelines & Diagnostics emphasize that tests like TRAb and supportive imaging are central throughout care, with TRAb repeatedly recommended for remission and relapse risk and active Graves ophthalmopathy flagged when CAS is at least 3 out of 7.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

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APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Graves Disease Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/graves-disease-statistics
MLA
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Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Graves Disease Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/graves-disease-statistics.

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