Use of levothyroxine for euthyroid, thyroid antibody positive women with infertility: Analyses of aggregate data from a survey of European thyroid specialists (Treatment of Hypothyroidism in Europe by Specialists: An International Survey)
Authors' conclusion
A remarkably high number of respondents surveyed between 2019 and 2021, would consider LT4 treatment in TPOAb positive euthyroid women with infertility. This view varied widely across countries and correlated with sex, age and workload, potentially influencing patient management. These results raise concerns about potential risks of overtreatment.
Study context
- Population
- European thyroid specialists responding to Treatment of Hypothyroidism in Europe by Specialists, an International Survey (THESIS) questionnaire (2019–2021) on levothyroxine (LT4) in infertile, euthyroid women with positive thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb)
- Participants
- 5,406 respondents
- Outcome
- Proportion of respondents stating LT4 may be indicated in TPOAb positive euthyroid women with infertility
Methodological detailsquestionnaire survey, international, multivariate analysis, Questionnaire conducted between 2019 and 2021
- Questionnaire survey
- International
- Multivariate analysis
- Questionnaire conducted between 2019 and 2021
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Respondents stating LT4 may be indicated in TPOAb positive euthyroid women with infertility
Respondents stating LT4 may be indicated
2316 of 5406
42.8%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Proportion replying positively by country
- Varied widely across countries: median
- 39.4
- Range
- 22.9%-83.7%
Respondent characteristics associated with considering LT4 (multivariate analyses)
- Males, OR
- 0.8 (CI 0.7-0.9)
- Respondents >60 years, OR (0.6-0.8)
- 0.7
- Managing thyroid patients weekly, OR
- 1.4 (CI 1.0-1.9)
- Managing thyroid patients daily, OR
- 1.8 (CI 1.3-2.4)
- Practicing in Eastern Europe, OR
- 1.5 (CI 1.3-1.9)
- Multivariate analyses
Original publication
Use of levothyroxine for euthyroid, thyroid antibody positive women with infertility: Analyses of aggregate data from a survey of European thyroid specialists (Treatment of Hypothyroidism in Europe by Specialists: An International Survey). Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). Published 10 June 2024. doi:10.
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