Prevalence and factors associated with chronic use of levothyroxine: A cohort study.

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License: CC BY 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_D897A5BB559A
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Prevalence and factors associated with chronic use of levothyroxine: A cohort study.
Journal
PloS one
Author(s)
Janett-Pellegri C., Wildisen L., Feller M., Del Giovane C., Moutzouri E., Grolimund O., Walter P., Waeber G., Marques-Vidal P., Vollenweider P., Rodondi N.
ISSN
1932-6203 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
1932-6203
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2021
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
16
Number
12
Pages
e0261160
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: epublish
Abstract
Levothyroxine prescriptions are rising worldwide. However, there are few data on factors associated with chronic use.
To assess the prevalence of chronic levothyroxine use, its rank among other chronic drugs and factors associated with chronic use. To assess the proportion of users outside the therapeutic range of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
Cohort study (CoLaus|PsyCoLaus) with recruitment from 2003 to 2006. Follow-ups occurred 5 and 10 years after baseline.
A random sample of Lausanne (Switzerland) inhabitants aged 35-75 years.
We evaluated the prevalence of chronic levothyroxine use and we then ranked it among the other most used chronic drugs. The ranking was compared to data from health insurance across the country. We assessed the association between each factor and chronic levothyroxine use in multivariable logistic regression models. The proportion of chronic levothyroxine users outside the usual TSH therapeutic range was assessed.
4,334 participants were included in the analysis (mean±SD age 62.8±10.4 years, 54.9% women). 166 (3.8%) participants were chronic levothyroxine users. Levothyroxine was the second most prescribed chronic drug after aspirin in the cohort (8.2%) and the third most prescribed when using Swiss-wide insurance data. In multivariable analysis, chronic levothyroxine use was associated with increasing age [odds ratio 1.03, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.05 per 1-year increase]; female sex [11.87 (5.24-26.89)]; BMI [1.06 (1.02-1.09) per 1-kg/m2 increase]; number of concomitant drugs [1.22 (1.16-1.29) per 1-drug increase]; and family history of thyroid pathologies [2.18 (1.37-3.48)]. Among chronic levothyroxine users with thyroid hormones assessment (n = 157), 42 (27%) were outside the TSH therapeutic range (17% overtreated and 10% undertreated).
In this population-based study, levothyroxine ranked second among chronic drugs. Age, female sex, BMI, number of drugs and family history of thyroid pathologies were associated with chronic levothyroxine use. More than one in four chronic users were over- or undertreated.
Pubmed
Open Access
Yes
Create date
11/01/2022 14:29
Last modification date
19/07/2023 6:57
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