Levothyroxine Treatment of Subclinical Hypothyroidism and the Risk of Adverse Cardiovascular Events
Main finding · MACE incidence rateResult — go to the resultHazard ratio 0.88 CI 0.83–0.93Authors' conclusion
Levothyroxine treatment of SCH was associated with a small decreased risk of MACE. However, given the observational nature of the study, residual confounding should be considered in the interpretation of this finding.
Study context
- Population
- Adults aged ≥18 years with incident subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) (at least two TSH levels between 5 and 10 mU/L within one year, 1998–2018), UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink; mean age 62.8 years, 76.5% womenmatched cohort
- Participants
- 76,946 vs 76,946
- Exposure
- Levothyroxine treatment vs no treatment
- Levothyroxinen = 76,946
- Untreatedn = 76,946reference
- Outcome
- Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE): composite of nonfatal MI, nonfatal ischemic stroke and cardiovascular-related mortality
- Follow-up
- Median 1.6 years (IQR 0.5-4.2)
Methodological detailsprevalent new-user design, matched on age, sex, calendar time, duration of SCH and time-conditional propensity score
- Prevalent new-user design
- Matched on age, sex, calendar time, duration of SCH and time-conditional propensity score
Main finding
MACE incidence rate
Hazard ratio
0.88
CI 0.83–0.93
By group
Levothyroxinevs Untreated
HR 0.88 (CI 0.83–0.93)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Levothyroxine Treatment of Subclinical Hypothyroidism and the Risk of Adverse Cardiovascular Events. Thyroid. Published 6 August 2024. doi:10.
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