Appropriateness of Levothyroxine Prescription: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
Authors' conclusion
There is a considerable proportion of NEB levothyroxine prescriptions. These results call for additional research to replicate these findings and to explore the perspective of those prescribing and receiving levothyroxine.
Study context
- Population
- Adults prescribed levothyroxine for the first time, 2017–2020, three US academic centers; mean age 55 years (SD 19), 69% female, 84% White, 44% possible hypothyroid symptoms
- Participants
- 977 adults
- Exposure
- Appropriate vs Indeterminate vs nonevidence based (NEB)
- Appropriaten = 307
- Indeterminaten = 118
- NEBn = 528
- Outcome
- Appropriateness of levothyroxine initiation: appropriate, indeterminate or NEB
Methodological detailsmulticenter, three academic centers
- Multicenter
- Three academic centers
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Category of levothyroxine prescription
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Factors associated with NEB prescription (multivariable analysis)
| OR (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| FemaleMultivariable analysis | 1.3 (1.0–1.7) | |
| Prescription by primary care providerMultivariable analysis | 1.5 (1.2–2.0) | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (log scale) |
Most common reason per category
- NEB: index TSH <10 mIU/L without previous TSH or thyroxine values
- 131/528, 25%
- Appropriate: overt hypothyroidism
- 163/307, 53%
- Indeterminate: nonconfirmed SCH with TSH ≥10 mIU/L (no confirmatory testing)
- 51/118, 43%
Original publication
Appropriateness of Levothyroxine Prescription: A Multicenter Retrospective Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 1 September 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →