ArticlePloS one2020
Epidemiology of thyroid disorders in the Lifelines Cohort Study (the Netherlands).
Article in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
21 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 43 citations in OpenAlex.
- Endocrine and neurological complications in total versus completion thyroidectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC endocrine disorders · 2026Pooled it
- The sexual dysfunction in women with thyroid disorders: a meta-analysis.BMC endocrine disorders · 2024Pooled it
- Cardiovascular and bone health outcomes in older people with subclinical hypothyroidism treated with levothyroxine: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Systematic reviews · 2024Pooled it
- Structural MRI Biomarkers of Intracranial Pressure in IIH: Linking Optic Nerve Sheath, Pituitary Morphology, and Hormonal Changes.Clinical neuroradiology · 2026Article
- Uncovering Thyroid Vulnerability to Doxorubicin: Integrative Cellular and in vivo Evidence of Mitochondrial Dysfunction.Drug design, development and therapy · 2026Article
- Article
- Status of Serum Levels of Oxidative Stress Biochemical Markers and Total Antioxidant Capacity in Primary Hypothyroidism.Reports of biochemistry & molecular biology · 2025Article
- Local and Loco-Regional Anesthesia in Patients Who Underwent Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Evaluation of the hematological parameters, inflammatory biomarkers, and thyroid hormones in hypothyroidism patients.BMC research notes · 2024Article
- Myxedema Coma-associated Pancytopenia: A Case Report.Rambam Maimonides medical journal · 2024Article
- Prevalence, Incidence, and Risk Factors of Hypothyroidism in Adult Residents of Yazd Greater Area, 2015-2021: Results of Yazd Health Study.Iranian journal of medical sciences · 2024Article
- The global prevalence of sexual dysfunction in men with thyroid gland disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders · 2024Review
- Hypothyroidism, comorbidity and health-related quality of life: a population-based study.Endocrine connections · 2023Article
- Over- and Undertreatment With Levothyroxine.Deutsches Arzteblatt international · 2023Observational
- Neighborhood socioeconomic differences in BMI: The role of fast-food outlets and physical activity facilities.Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) · 2023Article
- Endocrine and non-endocrine causes of fatigue in adults with Neurofibromatosis type 1.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2023Review
- Optimal levothyroxine dose to achieve euthyroidism in patients with primary hypothyroidism: analysis according to etiology.Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Medicas (Cordoba, Argentina) · 2022Article
- The Relationship between Gastrointestinal Health, Micronutrient Concentrations, and Autoimmunity: A Focus on the Thyroid.Nutrients · 2022Review
- Levothyroxine use and the risk of colorectal cancer: a large population-based case-control study.Endocrine connections · 2022Article
- Prevalence and risk factors of untreated thyroid dysfunctions in the older Caucasian adults: Results of PolSenior 2 survey.PloS one · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThyroid hormone plays a pivotal role in human metabolism. In epidemiologic studies, adequate registration of thyroid disorders is warranted. We examined the prevalence of thyroid disorders, reported thyroid medication use, thyroid hormone levels, and validity of thyroid data obtained from questionnaires in the Lifelines Cohort Study.
methodsWe evaluated baseline data of all 152180 subjects (aged 18-93 years) of the Lifelines Cohort Study. At baseline, participants were asked about previous thyroid surgery and current and previous thyroid hormone use. At follow-up (n = 136776, after median 43 months), incident thyroid disorders could be reported in an open, non-structured question. Data on baseline thyroid hormone measurements (TSH, FT4 and FT3) were available in a subset of 39935 participants.
resultsOf the 152180 participants, mean (±SD) age was 44.6±13.1 years and 58.5% were female. Thyroid medication was used by 4790 participants (3.1%); the majority (98.2%) used levothyroxine, and 88% were females. 59.3% of levothyroxine users had normal TSH levels. The prevalence of abnormal TSH levels in those not using thyroid medication was 10.8%; 9.4% had a mildly elevated (4.01-10.0 mIU/L), 0.7% had suppressed (<0.40 mIU/L), while 0.7% had elevated (>10.0 mIU/L) TSH levels. Over 98% of subjects with TSH between 4 and 10 mIU/L had normal FT4. Open text questions allowing to report previous thyroid surgery and incident thyroid disorders proved not to be reliable and severely underestimated the true incidence and prevalence of thyroid disorders.
conclusionsUndetected thyroid disorders were prevalent in the general population, whereas the prevalence of thyroid medication use was 3.1%. Less than 60% of individuals using levothyroxine had a normal TSH level. The large group of individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism (9.4%) offers an excellent possibility to prospectively follow the natural course of this disorder. Both structured questions as well as linking to G.P.'s and pharmacists' data are necessary to improve the completeness and reliability of Lifelines' data on thyroid disorders.
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