Title
Practice variation in the care of subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy: A national survey of physicians in the United States
Date Issued
01 October 2019
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Toloza F.J.K.
Singh Ospina N.M.
Rodriguez-Gutierrez R.
O’Keeffe D.T.
Brito J.P.
Maraka S.
Publisher(s)
Endocrine Society
Abstract
Evidence regarding the effects of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) on adverse pregnancy outcomes and the ability of levothyroxine (LT4) treatment to prevent them is unclear. Available recommendations for the management of SCH during pregnancy are inconsistent. We conducted a nationwide survey among physicians assessing their knowledge of and current practices in the care of SCH in pregnancy and compared these with the most recent American Thyroid Association (ATA) recommendations. In this cross-sectional study, an online survey was sent to active US members of the Endocrine Society. This survey included questions about current practices and clinical scenarios aimed at assessing diagnostic evaluation, initiation of therapy, and follow-up in pregnant women with SCH. In total, 162 physicians completed the survey. ATA guidelines were reviewed by 76%, of whom 53% indicated that these guidelines actually changed their practice. Universal screening was the preferred screening approach (54%), followed by targeted screening (30%). For SCH diagnosis, most respondents (52%) endorsed a TSH level .2.5 mIU/L as a cutoff, whereas 5% endorsed a population-based cutoff as recommended by the ATA. The decision to initiate treatment varied depending on the specific clinical scenario; however, when LT4 was initiated, respondents expected a small/very small reduction in maternofetal complications. In conclusion, despite recently updated guidelines, there is still wide variation in clinical practices regarding the care of women with SCH in pregnancy. Highly reliable randomized trials are required to evaluate the effectiveness of the most uncertain treatment practices on the care of pregnant women with SCH.
Start page
1892
End page
1906
Volume
3
Issue
10
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Endocrinología, Metabolismo (incluyendo diabetes, hormonas)
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85087029173
Source
Journal of the Endocrine Society
Resource of which it is part
Journal of the Endocrine Society
ISSN of the container
24721972
Source funding
Arkansas Biosciences Institute
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus