2,300,000 hypothyroid people in the UK.
If 15% don't do well on levothyroxine, that is about 345,000 who might need something else (yes, my code for T3!). That is an awful lot of unwell people. And voters.
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2017 Aug 7. doi: 10.1111/cen.13440. [Epub ahead of print]
Prevalence of Treated Hypothyroidism in the Community - analysis from General Practices in North-East England with implications for the United Kingdom.
Ingoe L1, Phipps N2, Armstrong G3, Rajagopal A4, Kamali F5, Razvi S1,6.
Author information
1 Department of Endocrinology, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, Gateshead, NE9 6SX.
2 Hadrian Primary Care Alliance, West Northumberland.
3 Pharmicus,CBC Health Ltd, Gateshead, NE11 0QD.
4 Netherfield House Surgery, Seghill, Northumberland, NE23 7EF.
5 Branch End Surgery, Stocksfield, Northumberland, NE43 7LL.
6 Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
Hypothyroidism is more frequently diagnosed in women and older individuals. It has been suggested that the prevalence of hypothyroidism and the number of prescriptions for thyroid hormones are increasing. However, despite hypothyroidism being a common medical condition, contemporary data on prevalence, particularly across the various age groups, is limited.
DESIGN:
Information regarding number of individuals diagnosed with treated hypothyroidism (defined as patients prescribed levothyroxine) across ten General Practices (total population of 66,843) in the North-East of England in 2016 was obtained in an anonymised manner. Total as well as age group specific point prevalence rates were calculated. In addition, corresponding population data for the United Kingdom was acquired and national total and age-specific hypothyroidism prevalence rates were estimated.
RESULTS:
The overall prevalence of hypothyroidism in this community sample was 4.5% (n=3004). Prevalence increased across the age groups from 0.1% in children aged 0 - 10 years to 15.1% in those aged more than 90 years. After adjusting for demographic differences between the North-East England and UK populations, it is estimated that the total UK wide prevalence of hypothyroidism in 2016 is 3.6%; affecting more than 2.3 million individuals including nearly 800,000 individuals aged >70 years.
CONCLUSIONS:
Hypothyroidism affects millions of individuals in the UK and is currently a prevalent diagnosis in more than 1 in 10 individuals aged above 70 years. As the population ages this number is likely to increase. The clinical and economic effects of current management strategies for hypothyroidism, particularly in the older population, need to be evaluated. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Age groups; Hypothyroidism; Levothyroxine; Prevalence
PMID: 28782887
DOI: 10.1111/cen.13440