Overuse of Levothyroxine in Patients With Subclinical Hypothyroidism: Time to “Leve”-Out-Thyroxine

Editorial discusses study highlighting enormous overuse of levothyroxine in US despite evidence demonstrating no symptomatic benefit from treatment among non-pregnant adults with subclinical hypothyroidism. It looks at how to reduce inappropriate prescribing.

SPS commentary:

The retrospective analysis of 110,842 patients newly initiated on levothyroxine treatment between 2008 and 2018, found that among 58,706 patients for whom full thyroid function test results were available, 60% initiated levothyroxine for treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism (mostly for mild subclinical hypothyroidism) and 30% for normal thyroid function, without significant change in these patterns over time.

JAMA Internal Medicine

Resource links:

US study