SUBCLINICAL HYPOTHYROIDISM

Course overview

SUBCLINICAL HYPOTHYROIDISM CHARACTERISTICALLY PRESENTS WITH NORMAL THYROXINE (T4) LEVELS AND ELEVATED THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE (TSH) LEVELS. THE INCIDENCE OF SUBCLINICAL HYPOTHYROIDISM IS ESTIMATED TO BE 3-15% DEPENDING ON THE POPULATION STUDIED. INTRAINDIVIDUAL VARIATION IN TSH LEVELS IS MINIMAL, THIS IS SECONDARY TO A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL SETPOINT IN THE HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY AXIS. THIS CONDITION CORRELATES WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF FATAL AND NON-FATAL CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE (CAD) EVENTS, CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE AND FATAL STROKE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF SUBCLINICAL HYPOTHYROIDISM AND EXPLAINS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN IMPROVING CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.