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Cited by 73Thyroid Disorders and TreatmentsThyroid and Parathyroid SurgeryClinical practice guidelines implementation

A 2013 Survey of Clinical Practice Patterns in the Management of Primary Hypothyroidism

Burch, Henry B., Burman, Kenneth D., Cooper, David S., Hennessey, James V.·2014·The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
DOI 10.1210/jc.2014-1046
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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, 582 AACE members, and 208 ATA members. North American respondents accounted for 67.6%, Latin American 9.7%, European 9.2%, Asia and Oceania 8.1%, and Africa and Middle East 5.5%. Overt hypothyroidism would be treated using l-T4 alone by 99.2% of respondents; 0.8% would use combination l-T4 and liothyronine (l-T3) therapy. Generic l-T4 would be used by 49.3% and a brand name by 49.9%. The rate of replacement would be gradual (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 was <2.5 mU/L for 96.1% of respondents, with 63.5% preferring a TSH target <1.5 mU/L. Thyroid hormone levels would be checked every 4 weeks during pregnancy by 67.7% and every 8 weeks 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.

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  • A 2013 survey found that 0.8% of physicians would routinely use combination therapy for treating hypothyroidism, whereas 3.6% would use such therapy in a patient with persistent symptoms.

    “A survey about the treatment of hypothyroidism conducted in 2013 found that 0.8% of physicians would routinely use combination therapy for treating hypothyroidism, whereas 3.6% would use such therapy in a patient with persistent symptoms (32).”

    From Short-Term Time Trends in Prescribing Therapy for Hypothyroidism: Results of a Survey of American Thyroid Association Members (2019) · cites this paper as [32]

  • In the United States, 3.6% of endocrinologists report that they would prescribe L-T3 to hypothyroid patients with persistent symptoms and normal biochemical thyroid status.

    “In the United States, 3Á6% of endocrinologists report that they would give L-T3 to patients with hypothyroidism with persistent symptoms and normal biochemical thyroid status.24”

    From Management of primary hypothyroidism: statement by the British Thyroid Association Executive Committee (2016) · cites this paper as [24]

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Authors
Burch, H. B., Burman, K. D., Cooper, D. S., & Hennessey, J. V.
Affiliations
  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (US)
  • MedStar Washington Hospital Center (US)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Burch, Henry B.
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Publisher
The Endocrine Society
Published
2014-06-01
Volume
99
Issue
6
Pages
2077-2085
ISSN
  • 0021-972X (ISSN-L)
  • 1945-7197
DOI
10.1210/jc.2014-1046
OpenAlex
W2084843431
Semantic Scholar
e8b3c7696541d42761d8e0582684e2ddf8016f28
Cited by
73
References
32
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3
FWCI
5.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Thyroid Disorders and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Clinical practice guidelines implementation
Keywords
primary hypothyroidism, clinical practice patterns, levothyroxine, liothyronine, subclinical hypothyroidism, overt hypothyroidism, guideline adherence, cross-national comparison, dose titration
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Data Collection, Female, Humans, Hypothyroidism, Male, Middle Aged, Practice Patterns, Physicians', Pregnancy, Surveys and Questionnaires, Societies, Medical, Guideline Adherence, Young Adult

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