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Background/Objectives: There is evidence of overtreatment in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). We aimed to identify the proportion of patients treated for SCH and the determinants of thyroid hormone therapy initiation. Methods: We included a random sample of adult Veterans diagnosed with SCH from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2018 and conducted univariate and multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with levothyroxine initiation. Results: Out of 229 Veterans with SCH [90.0% male, 87.2% White, 99.1% non-Hispanic, median age (interquartile range; IQR) 68 (17) years], 27.5% were treated with levothyroxine. The treated group had a higher proportion of White patients (95.2% vs. 84.2%, p = 0.039), a higher thyrotropin level [median (IQR), 6.98 (2.06) mIU/L vs. 6.14 (1.10) mIU/L, p = 0.0002], a higher proportion of patients with thyrotropin level ≥ 10 mIU/L (11.1% vs. 3.0%, p = 0.021), a lower frequency of confirmatory thyroid testing before initiating levothyroxine (49.2% vs. 97.0%, p < 0.0001), and a similar frequency of thyroid autoimmunity testing (3.2% vs. 0.6%, p = 0.18) compared to the untreated group. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, White race (OR = 4.50, 95% CI 1.19 to 17.08, p = 0.026) and index thyrotropin level [OR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.35, p = 0.001; for every SD increase (1.6 mIU/L)] were associated with higher odds of treatment. Conclusions: Three in 10 Veterans with SCH received levothyroxine, often based on a single abnormal thyroid test without autoimmunity assessment. White race and higher thyrotropin level were linked to increased odds of starting treatment, indicating potential disparities and the influence of SCH severity on decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Autoimmunity against insulin-producing beta cells from pancreatic islets is a common phenomenon in type 1 diabetes and latent autoimmune diabetes in adults. Some reports have also related beta-cell autoimmunity to insulin resistance (IR) in type 2 diabetes. However, the extent to which autoimmunity against components of beta cells is present and relates to IR and insulin secretion in nondiabetic adults is uncertain. Aim: To explore the association between antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA), a major antigen from beta cells, and indices of whole-body IR and beta-cell capacity/insulin secretion in adults who do not have diabetes. Methods: We studied 81 adults of both sexes aged 30-70, without known diabetes or any autoimmune disease. Participants underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with determination of plasma glucose and insulin at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes. From these results we calculated indices of insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR] and incremental area under the insulin curve [iAUCins]) and insulin secretion (corrected insulin response at 30 minutes and HOMA beta-cell%). GADAs were measured in fasting plasma using immunoenzymatic methods. Results: We found an overall prevalence of GADA positivity of 21.3%, without differences by sex and no correlation with age. GADA titers did not change monotonically across quartiles of any of the IR or insulin secretion indices studies. GADA did not correlate linearly with fasting IR expressed as HOMA-IR (Spearman's r=-0.18, p=0.10) or postabsorptive IR expressed as iAUCins (r=-0.15, p=0.18), but did show a trend toward a negative correlation with insulin secretory capacity expressed by the HOMA-beta cell% index (r=-0.20, p=0.07). Hemoglobin A1c, body mass index, and waist circumference were not associated with GADA titers. Conclusion: GADA positivity is frequent and likely related to impaired beta-cell function among adults without known diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Predicting recurrence after antithyroid drug (ATD) cessation is crucial for optimal treatment decision-making in patients with Graves' disease (GD). We aimed to identify factors associated with GD recurrence and to develop a model using routine pretherapeutic clinical parameters to predict GD recurrence risk during the first year following ATD discontinuation., Methods: This electronic health records-based observational cohort study analyzed patients with GD treated with ATDs at 3 U.S. academic centers. Demographic, clinical characteristics, and GD recurrence within 1 year following ATD discontinuation were assessed. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed. A predictive model for GD recurrence was developed and visualized as a nomogram., Results: Among the 523 patients included in the study, 211 (40.34%) discontinued treatment. Of these, the 142 (67.29%) that had a follow-up period exceeding 12 months after stopping ATD were used for the development of the predictive model. Among the patients included in the model, the majority were women (n = 111, 78.16%), with a mean age of 49.29 years (standard deviation 16.31) and baseline free thyroxine (FT4) levels averaging 3.39 ng/dl (standard deviation 2.25). Additionally, 79 of 211 patients (37.44%) experienced recurrence within 1 year. Multivariable analysis indicated a 31% increased risk of GD recurrence per additional decade of age (odds ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.66, P = .0258), and a 65% increased risk of GD recurrence for every 2.0 ng/dL rise in baseline FT4 (odds ratio 1.65, 95% confidence interval 1.08-2.50, P = .0192). The recurrence predictive model's area under the curve was 0.69 in the derivation dataset and 0.65 in cross-validation., Conclusions: This study introduced a practical model that can be used during the initial therapeutic decision-making process. It utilizes easily accessible baseline clinical data to predict the likelihood of GD recurrence after 1 year of ATD therapy. Further research is needed to identify other factors affecting risk of recurrence and develop more precise predictive models., Competing Interests: Disclosure Dingfeng Li is currently an employee of BridgeBio, which is unrelated to the submitted work. Omar El Kawkgi, Freddy J.K. Toloza, Sebastian Vallejo, Cristian Soto Jacome, Ivan N. Ayala, Bryan A. Vallejo, Camila Wenczenovicz, Olivia Tzeng, Jacob Kohlenberg, Eddy Lincango, Sneha Mohan, Jessica Castellanos-Diaz, David Toro-Tobon, Horace J. Spencer, Jeff D Thostenson, Spyridoula Maraka, Naykky Singh Ospina, and Juan P. Brito have no conflicts of interest to declare. Data necessary for the conception of this study were provided by the Arkansas Clinical Data Repository (AR-CDR) and maintained by the Department of Biomedical Informatics in the College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, AR. The contents do not represent the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Government., (Copyright © 2024 AACE. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The frequency and factors associated with thyroid hormone replacement therapy among patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) remain uncertain. Methods: In this electronic health records-based observational cohort study, we included adults diagnosed with SCH from four academic centers (the United States and Mexico) from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2018. We aimed to identify the determinants of thyroid hormone replacement therapy for SCH and the frequency of treated SCH. Results: A total of 796 patients (65.2% women) had SCH, and 165 (20.7%) were treated with thyroid hormone replacement therapy. The treated group was younger [51.0 (standard deviation {SD} 18.3) vs. 55.3 (SD 18.2) years, p  = 0.008] and had a higher proportion of women (72.7% vs. 63.2%, p  = 0.03) compared with the untreated group. Only 46.7% of patients in the treated group and 65.6% in the untreated group had confirmatory thyroid function tests (TFTs) before the decision to start thyroid hormone replacement therapy was made. There was no difference in the frequency of thyroid autoimmunity evaluation, but a positive thyroid autoimmunity test was more frequent in the treated group compared with the untreated group (48.2% vs. 20.3%, p  < 0.001). In a multivariable logistic regression model, female sex (odds ratio [OR] = 1.71 [CI 1.13-2.59], p  = 0.01) and index thyrotropin (TSH) level (OR = 1.97 [CI 1.56-2.49], p  < 0.001 for every SD [2.75 mIU/L] change) were associated with higher odds of treatment. Conclusions: Among patients with SCH, female sex and index TSH level were associated with higher odds of treatment. Moreover, in our population, the decision to treat or not to treat SCH was often based on only one set of abnormal TFTs, and thyroid autoimmunity assessment was underused.

Objective: To understand the perspectives of persons' living with diabetes about the increasing cost of diabetes management through an analysis of online health communities (OHCs) and the impact of persons' participation in OHCs on their capacity and treatment burden., Patients and Methods: A qualitative study of 556 blog posts submitted between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2017 to 4 diabetes social networking sites was conducted between March 2018 and July 2019. All posts were coded inductively using thematic analysis procedures. Eton's Burden of Treatment Framework and Boehmer's Theory of Patient Capacity directed triangulation of themes with existing theory., Results: Three themes were identified: (1) cost barriers to care: participants describe individual and systemic cost barriers that inhibit prescribed therapy goals; (2) impact of financial cost on health: participants describe the financial effects of care on their physical and emotional health; and (3) saving strategies to overcome cost impact: participants discuss practical strategies that help them achieve therapy goals. Finally, we also identify that the use of OHCs serves to increase persons' capacity with the potential to decrease treatment burden, ultimately improving mental and physical health., Conclusion: High cost for diabetes care generated barriers that negatively affected physical health and emotional states. Participant-shared experiences in OHCs increased participants' capacity to manage the burden. Potential solutions include cost-based shared decision-making tools and advocacy for policy change., (© 2021 THE AUTHORS.)

Background: Levothyroxine (LT4) is one of the most commonly prescribed medications. Although considered a life-long replacement therapy, LT4 therapy can be discontinued for some patients. This study aims at: (i) reviewing the evidence on clinical outcomes of patients undergoing thyroid hormone replacement discontinuation, (ii) identifying the predictors of successful discontinuation, and (iii) systematically appraising frameworks used for deprescribing thyroid hormone. Methods: We searched multiple bibliographic databases, including Ovid MEDLINE(R) and Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and Daily, Ovid Embase, Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus, from inception to February 2020 for studies in which thyroid hormone replacement was discontinued. Clinical outcomes assessed included: proportion of patients that remained euthyroid or needed to restart thyroid hormone replacement after discontinuation and frequency of clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism and adverse effects. We also evaluated predictors for discontinuation and deprescribing frameworks. Reviewers (F.J.K.T., N.B., N.M.S.O., S.M.) evaluated studies for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality independently and in duplicate. Results: Seventeen observational studies at moderate to high risk of bias met inclusion criteria, including a total of 1103 patients (86% women) with an age range of 2-81 years. Approximately a third of patients undergoing thyroid hormone discontinuation remained euthyroid at follow-up (37.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI 24.2-50.1%], I 2 97.5%). Subgroup analysis showed that patients with a previous diagnosis of overt hypothyroidism (OH) were less likely to remain euthyroid (11.8% [CI 0.4-23.2%], I 2 90.3%) than patients with a prior diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) (35.6% [CI 8.2-62.9%], I 2 94.0%). No study followed a framework for systematically deprescribing LT4. Conclusions: Low-quality evidence suggests that up to a third of patients remained euthyroid after thyroid hormone discontinuation, with a higher proportion of patients with an initial diagnosis of SCH remaining euthyroid than patients with an initial diagnosis of OH. A deprescribing framework focusing on adequate selection of patients for deprescribing LT4 and a systematic process is warranted to guide clinicians in re-evaluating the need for LT4 in their patients.

Background: The use of prescribed medications during pregnancy is a challenge and an underestimated source of treatment burden. Levothyroxine (LT4) for the treatment of overt and subclinical hypothyroidism is extensively prescribed during pregnancy. To this end, we aimed to explore the patients' perceived benefits and risks, knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and related burden of LT4 therapy during pregnancy. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed pregnant women who were treated with LT4 during pregnancy from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, in a tertiary academic medical center of the United States. The anonymous online survey included questions to gather demographic data and multiple-choice questions regarding the benefits and risks, knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and burden related to LT4 use during pregnancy. Results: Sixty-four pregnant women (mean age 31.5 years) completed the study survey (response rate: 96%): 62% were diagnosed with hypothyroidism more than 12 months before pregnancy, 16% less than or about 12 months before pregnancy, and 22% during pregnancy. We found that one-third of pregnant women using LT4 had a feeling of uneasiness/anxiety due to their hypothyroidism diagnosis. About half of the respondents (45%) reported that they did not receive an explanation by their clinician regarding the maternal/fetal risks of uncontrolled hypothyroidism or the benefits of adequate control. Finally, two in three patients expressed various concerns of LT4-related treatment burden. Conclusions: Our findings support the need for increased effective communication and tailored counseling to address fears, anxiety, and uncertainties about the benefits and risks of LT4 use in pregnancy. For patients with clear benefits from LT4 treatment in pregnancy, it could help to overcome their concerns, promote adherence, and decrease adverse maternal/fetal outcomes. For patients with no clear benefits established, clinicians need to be aware of LT4-related treatment burden in pregnancy and implement patient-centered approaches in their clinical practices.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis describing the association of thyroid function with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults., Methods: The authors conducted a comprehensive search from databases' inception to July 20, 2018. The meta-analysis included studies that reported mean values and standard deviation (SD) of thyroid hormone levels (thyroid-stimulating hormone &lsqb;TSH], free thyroxine &lsqb;FT4], free triiodothyronine &lsqb;FT3], total T4 &lsqb;TT4], and total T3 &lsqb;TT3]) in patients with PTSD compared with controls. Five reviewers worked independently, in duplicate, to determine study inclusion, extract data, and assess risk of bias. The mean value and SD of the thyroid function tests were used to calculate the mean difference for each variable. Random-effects models for meta-analyses were applied., Results: The meta-analysis included 10 observational studies at low-to-moderate risk of bias. Studies included 674 adults (373 PTSD, 301 controls). The meta-analytic estimates showed higher levels of FT3 (+0.28 pg/mL; P = .001) and TT3 (+18.90 ng/dL; P = .005) in patients with PTSD compared to controls. There were no differences in TSH, FT4, or TT4 levels between groups. In the subgroup analysis, patients with combat-related PTSD still had higher FT3 (+0.36 pg/mL; P = .0004) and higher TT3 (+31.62 ng/dL; P<.00001) compared with controls. Conversely, patients with non-combat-related PTSD did not have differences in FT3 or TT3 levels compared with controls., Conclusion: There is scarce evidence regarding the association of thyroid disorders with PTSD. These findings add to the growing literature suggesting that thyroid function changes may be associated with PTSD., (© 2020 American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Published by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Shared decision-making (SDM) is a process of collaboration between patients and clinicians. An increasing number of educational programs to teach SDM have been developed. We aimed to summarize and evaluate the body of evidence assessing the outcomes of these programs., Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies that aimed to teach SDM to medical trainees. Reviewers worked independently and in duplicate to select studies, extract data and evaluate the risk of bias., Results: Eighteen studies were included. Most studies focused on residents/fellows (61 %) and combined a didactic component with a practical experience (50 % used a standardized patient). Overall, participants reported satisfaction with the courses. The effects on knowledge, attitudes/confidence and comfort with SDM were small; no clear improvement on SDM skills was noted. Evaluation of clinical behavior and outcomes was limited (3/18 studies). Studies had moderate risk of bias., Conclusion: Very low quality evidence suggests that educational programs for teaching SDM to medical trainees are viewed as satisfactory and have a small impact on knowledge and comfort with SDM. Their impact on clinical skills, behaviors and patient outcomes is less clear., Practical Implications: Integration of formal and systematic outcomes evaluation (effects on behavior/clinical practice) should be part of future programs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose of Review: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is a common diagnosis among women of reproductive age. The importance of sufficient maternal thyroid supply during pregnancy is well known. Nevertheless, the effects of SCH during pregnancy and the efficacy of its treatment on maternofetal outcomes are not well established. This review discusses the recent evidence on SCH in pregnancy and how this evidence is reflected in current clinical care., Recent Findings: Recent observational studies have found a positive association between SCH during pregnancy and adverse maternal, neonatal and offspring outcomes, mainly in thyroid peroxidase autoantibody positive women. Although interventional studies have shown a benefit of levothyroxine (LT4) treatment on selected pregnancy outcomes, there was no effect on offspring neurodevelopment., Summary: Current evidence strengthens the association between SCH with both maternofetal and offspring adverse outcomes. An earlier and more individualized diagnostic assessment taking into consideration predictors of thyroid dysfunction and major risk factors for complications could result in better management of SCH during pregnancy. The effectiveness of LT4 on improving maternofetal and long-term offspring outcomes is still not fully elucidated.

Objective: To assess the extent to which evaluations of shared decision making (SDM) assess the extent and quality of humanistic communication (i.e., respect, compassion, empathy)., Methods: We systematically searched Web of Science and Scopus for prospective studies published between 2012 and February 2018 that evaluated SDM in actual clinical decisions using validated SDM measures. Two reviewers working independently and in duplicate extracted all statements from eligible studies and all items from SDM measurement instruments that referred to humanistic patient-clinician communication., Results: Of the 154 eligible studies, 14 (9%) included ≥1 statements regarding humanistic communication, either in framing the study (N = 2), measuring impact (e.g., empathy, respect, interpersonal skills; N = 9), as patients'/clinicians' accounts of SDM (N = 2), in interpreting study results (N = 3), and in discussing implications of study findings (N = 3). Of the 192 items within the 11 SDM measurement instruments deployed in the included studies, 7 (3.6%) items assessed humanistic communication., Conclusion: Assessments of the quality of SDM focus narrowly on SDM technique and rarely assess humanistic aspects of patient-clinician communication., Practice Implications: Considering SDM as merely a technique may reduce SDM's patient-centeredness and undermine its' contribution to patient care., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)