Numbers

[win_4ever]

Has anyone any idea of how many thyroid sufferers there are in the UK?

[diogenes Remembering]

Difficult one. Official estimates are around the 5% mark i.e. 3-4 million of which the female/male ratio is 8/1. I'd guess another 3-5% who have it, but don't know it - e.g. when you're 70+ there's too much of "what do you expect at your age" as a diagnosis (older people can have thyroid problems masked by other things, so they don't get proper or any treatment and get fobbed off as above). And depression diagnoses can be a misinterpretation of thyroid problems. Personally, and it is exactly that, I think almost everyone sometime in their life can have at least some subclinical episodes (stress, disease). They aren't discovered unless by accident you happen to go to the GP AND he/she orders thyroid function testing, when you are in a (temporary) dysfunctional state. I think lots of us socalled normals have these transient episodes and never know about it.

[diogenes Remembering in reply to diogenes]

Source of my estimate:

American Thyroid Association website:

thyroid.org/media-main/abou...

[win_4ever in reply to diogenes]

Thank you Diogenes was interesting reading. Especially about cause unknown! How long it takes to get a cause of thyroidism is still up in the air even though so many sufferers.... Unbelievable!

[Clutter]

Win, In addition to the diagnosed hypo and hyper thyroid patients there are a lot who are suffering symptoms of dysfunction with borderline levels which don't qualify for a diagnosis.

[win_4ever in reply to Clutter]

Hmmm. So numbers make no difference. It is a case of carry on suffering and being frustrated. NOT FUNNY!😬

[Clutter in reply to win_4ever]

Win, symptom can precede a diagnosis by years and the numbers make all the difference between getting, and not getting, a diagnosis.

[win_4ever]

A pity so many voices not being heard by those who have the ability to change things...sigh.

[Hidden in reply to win_4ever]

There are many forums, petitions, books, articles, etc on going...we will be heard one day..! !

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

A few years ago I tracked down the official statistics of number of patients being prescribed levothyroxine. At that time, it was around 2.1% of the adult population in England. I think it has risen since then.

This is very much NOT how many thyroid sufferers there are - but how many are receiving levothyroxine. The number will include Graves patients on carbimazole and/or propylthiouracil who need it. It will exclude those who source their own and no longer collect prescriptions, those who are not diagnosed, etc.

Fugures were avalable for every GP surgery in England - not sure about Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - and I suspect they will still be available.

[win_4ever]

Yes Flower I think you are right and the sooner the better.