Use of levothyroxine for euthyroid, thyroid antibody positive women with infertility: Analyses of aggregate data from a survey of European thyroid specialists (Treatment of Hypothyroidism in Europe by Specialists: An International Survey).

OBJECTIVES: The use of levothyroxine (LT4) treatment aiming to improve fertility in euthyroid women with positive thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) is not supported by the available evidence. The aim of the study was to document the use of LT4 by European thyroid specialists in such patients. DESIGN: The data presented derive from Treatment of Hypothyroidism in Europe by Specialists, an International Survey (THESIS), a questionnaire conducted between 2019 and 2021 to document the management of hypothyroidism by European thyroid specialists. Here, we report the aggregate results on the use of LT4 in infertile, euthyroid women with positive TPOAb. RESULTS: A total of 2316/5406 (42.8%) respondents stated that LT4 may be indicated in TPOAb positive euthyroid women with infertility. The proportion of those replying positively to this question varied widely across different countries (median 39.4, range 22.9%-83.7%). In multivariate analyses males (OR: 0.8; CI: 0.7-0.9) and respondents >60 years (OR: 0.7; 0.6-0.8) were the least inclined to consider LT4 for this indication. Conversely, respondents managing many thyroid patients ("weekly" [OR: 1.4; CI: 1.0-1.9], "daily" [OR: 1.8; CI: 1.3-2.4]) and practicing in Eastern Europe (OR: 1.5; CI: 1.3-1.9) were most likely to consider LT4. CONCLUSIONS: A remarkably high number of respondents surveyed between 2019 and 2021, would consider LT4 treatment in TPOAb positive euthyroid women with infertility. This view varied widely across countries and correlated with sex, age and workload, potentially influencing patient management. These results raise concerns about potential risks of overtreatment.

Characteristics of specialists treating hypothyroid patients: the "THESIS" collaborative.

Introduction: Thyroid specialists influence how hypothyroid patients are treated, including patients managed in primary care. Given that physician characteristics influence patient care, this study aimed to explore thyroid specialist profiles and associations with geo-economic factors. Methods: Thyroid specialists from 28 countries were invited to respond to a questionnaire, Treatment of Hypothyroidism in Europe by Specialists: an International Survey (THESIS). Geographic regions were defined according to the United Nations Statistics Division. The national economic status was estimated using World Bank data on the gross national income per capita (GNI per capita). Results: 5,695 valid responses were received (response rate 33·0%). The mean age was 49 years, and 65·0% were female. The proportion of female respondents was lowest in Northern (45·6%) and highest in Eastern Europe (77·2%) (p <0·001). Respondent work volume, university affiliation and private practice differed significantly between countries (p<0·001). Age and GNI per capita were correlated inversely with the proportion of female respondents (p<0·01). GNI per capita was inversely related to the proportion of respondents working exclusively in private practice (p<0·011) and the proportion of respondents who treated >100 patients annually (p<0·01). Discussion: THESIS has demonstrated differences in characteristics of thyroid specialists at national and regional levels, strongly associated with GNI per capita. Hypothyroid patients in middle-income countries are more likely to encounter female thyroid specialists working in private practice, with a high workload, compared to high-income countries. Whether these differences influence the quality of care and patient satisfaction is unknown, but merits further study.

Conversion from Prediabetes to Diabetes in Individuals with Obesity, 5-Years Post-Band, Sleeve, and Gastric Bypass Surgeries.

BACKGROUND: Identifying risk factors for conversion to diabetes among individuals with obesity and prediabetes is important for preventing diabetes. PURPOSE: We assessed conversion rates to diabetes 5 years after three types of metabolic surgery and examined predictors of diabetes development. METHODS: We accessed data of individuals with prediabetes, defined as fasting glucose (FG) 100-125 mg/dL (5.6-6.9 mmol/L) or HbA1c 5.7-6.4% at baseline (preoperatively), who underwent metabolic surgeries in Clalit Health Services during 2002-2011. RESULTS: Of 1,756 individuals with prediabetes, 819 underwent gastric banding (GB), 845 sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and 92 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Mean age was 41.6 years and 73.5% were women. Five years post-surgery, 177 (10.1%) had developed diabetes. Conversion rates by type of surgery were 14.4%, 6.3%, and 6.5% for GB, SG, and RYGB, respectively (p < 0.001). Conversion was more rapid following GB than SG or RYGB (χ2(2) = 29.67, p < 0.005). In a multiple-logistic-regression model, predictors of diabetes development 5 years postoperatively were (1) weight loss during the first postoperative year and (2) preoperative levels of both FG and HbA1c within the prediabetes range. Baseline weight, age, and sex, were not associated with conversion to diabetes. Conversion rates were lower (4.7%) five years postoperatively for patients who lost > 25% of their baseline weight, compared to those who lost less than 15% of their weight during the first postoperative year: (14.0% < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings emphasize the importance of preoperative glycemic control and weight loss during the first year postoperatively, for the long-term prevention of diabetes in patients with prediabetes undergoing metabolic surgery.