A 2013 survey of clinical practice patterns in the management of primary hypothyroidism

63Citations
Citations of this article
80Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Context: In 2012, comprehensive clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) were published regarding the management of hypothyroidism. Objective: We sought to document current practices in the management of primary hypothyroidism and compare these results with recommendations made in the 2012 American Thyroid Association (ATA)/American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) hypothyroidism CPGs. In addition, we sought to examine differences in management among international members of U.S.-based endocrine societies and to compare survey results with those obtained from a survey of ATA members performed 12 years earlier. Methods: Clinical members of The Endocrine Society (TES), the ATA, and the AACE were asked to take a web-based survey consisting of 30 questions dealing with testing, treatment, and modulating factors in the management of primary hypothyroidism. Results: In total, 880 respondents completed the survey, including 618 members of TES, 582AACEmembers, and 208 ATA members. North American respondents accounted for 67.6%, Latin American 9.7%, European 9.2%,AsiaandOceania8.1%,andAfricaandMiddleEast5.5%. Overthypothyroidismwouldbetreatedusing L-T4 aloneby99.2%of respondents;0. 8%wouldusecombinationL-T4andliothyronine (L-T3) therapy. Generic L-T4wouldbeused by49.3%anda brandnameby 49.9%.Therate of replacementwouldbegradual (38.5%); an empiric dose, adjusted to achieve target (33.6%); or a calculated full replacement dose (27.8%). A target TSH of 1.0 to 1.9 mU/L was favored in the index case, but 3.0 to 3.9 mU/L was the most commonly selected TSH target for an octogenarian. Persistent hypothyroid symptoms despite achieving a target TSH would prompt testing for other causes by 84.3% of respondents, a referral to primary care by 11.3%, and a change to L-T4 plus L-T3 therapy by 3.6%. Evaluation of persistent symptoms would include measurement of T3 levels by 21.9% of respondents. Subclinical disease with a TSH 5.0 to 10.0 mU/L would be treated without further justification by 21.3% of respondents, or in the presence of positive thyroid peroxidase antibodies (62.3%), hypothyroid symptoms (60.9%), high low-density lipoprotein (52.9%), or goiter (46.6%). The TSH target for a newly pregnant patient was2.5 mU/L for 96.1% of respondents, with 63.5% preferring a TSH target1.5 mU/L. Thyroidhormonelevelswouldbecheckedevery4weeksduringpregnancyby67. 7%andevery8weeks by an additional 21.4%. A hypothyroid patient with TSH of 0.5 mU/L who becomes pregnant would receive an immediate L-T4 dose increase by only 36.9% of respondents. Conclusion: The current survey of clinical endocrinologists catalogs current practice patterns in the management of hypothyroidism and demonstrates 1) a nearly exclusive preference for L-T4 alone as initial therapy, 2) the widespread use of age-specific TSH targets for replacement therapy, 3) a low threshold for treating mild thyroid failure, 4) meticulous attention to TSH targets in the pregnant and prepregnant woman, and 5) a highly variable approach to both the rate and means of restoring euthyroidism for overt disease. Both alignment and focal divergence from recent CPGs are demonstrated. © 2014 by the Endocrine Society.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Burch, H. B., Burman, K. D., Cooper, D. S., & Hennessey, J. V. (2014). A 2013 survey of clinical practice patterns in the management of primary hypothyroidism. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 99(6), 2077–2085. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2014-1046

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free