This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Many Europeans unaware they have thyroid dysfunction
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Thyroid dysfunction may be more widespread among European patients than previously thought, according to data published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
“According to this meta-analysis, nearly 11% of Europeans have thyroid dysfunction and, of special concern, only about half of them are aware of their condition. Most of these patients (approximately 4.5 out of 5) have mild thyroid disease, having subclinical hypothyroidism, the leading cause of thyroid dysfunction, almost two-thirds of them,” researchers wrote.
The researchers conducted a search of PubMed, EMBASE and SCOPUS databases for studies that examined the prevalence or incidence of thyroid dysfunction in Europe between 1975 and 2012.
They extracted data from 17 studies, and grouped results into three categories:
- Prevalence of undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction;
- Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction; and
- Incidence of thyroid dysfunction.
The mean prevalence of undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction (category 1) in Europe was 6.71% (95% CI, 6.49-6.93). The prevalence of undiagnosed hypothyroidism was 4.94% (95% CI, 4.75-5.13) and hyperthyroidism was 1.72% (95% CI, 1.66-1.88), according to data.
These data indicate that 80.1% of the undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction was subclinical, researchers wrote.
In addition, the mean prevalence of total thyroid dysfunction (category 2) in Europe was 3.82% (95% CI, 3.77-3.86). The prevalence of previously known thyroid dysfunction was 3.05% (95% CI, 3.01-3.09) and hyperthyroidism was 0.75% (95% CI, 0.73-0.77), according to data.
The researchers wrote that these data indicate 85.2% of thyroid dysfunction was subclinical.
The incidence of total thyroid dysfunction (category 3) in Europe was 259.12 per 100,000 per year (95% CI, 254.39-263.9), according to data.
The incidence rate for hypothyroidism was 226.2 (95% CI, 222.26-230.17) and 51 (95% CI, 49.23-52.88) per 100,000 per year for hyperthyroidism, they added.
“We conclude that a large proportion of the European population unknowingly has laboratory evidence of thyroid dysfunction,” researchers wrote.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts