Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of patients randomised with primary hypothyroidism (n = 332).
| Intervention group (n = 166) | Control group (n = 166) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patient characteristics | n | % | n | % |
| Mean age, years (SD) | 61.3 (13.8) | – | 62.3 (12.3) | – |
| Female | 152 | 92 | 153 | 92 |
| No formal educational qualificationsa | 43 | 26 | 50 | 30 |
| Home owner | 147 | 89 | 144 | 87 |
| Diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism | ||||
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 123 | 74 | 113 | 68 |
| Mean age at diagnosis, years (SD) | 51.8 (14.2) | – | 52.9 (13.5) | – |
| Median duration, years (IQR) | 6 (3–13) | – | 6 (3–12) | – |
| Symptomatic at diagnosisb | 109 | 66 | 103 | 62 |
| Previous history of thyrotoxicosis | 37 | 22 | 37 | 22 |
| Provision of medical care | ||||
| GP care alone over last 12 months | 145 | 87 | 138 | 83 |
| TSH checked within last 12 months | 135 | 81 | 134 | 81 |
| Median numbers of GP visits in 12 months (IQR) | 6 (4–9) | – | 6 (3–9) | – |
| Thyroxine only prescribed medication | 36 | 22 | 42 | 25 |
| Thyroxine therapy and baseline TSH | ||||
| Mean dose thyroxine, mcg/kg (SD) | 1.7 (0.6) | – | 1.6 (0.6) | – |
| Undetectable TSH (0mIU/L) | 34 | 20 | 22 | 13 |
| Suppressed TSH (0.1 to 0.4mIU/L) | 30 | 18 | 29 | 17 |
| Normal TSH (0.5 to 4.7mIU/L) | 83 | 50 | 96 | 58 |
| Elevated TSH (4.8mIU/L or more) | 19 | 11 | 19 | 11 |
| Generic and disease-specific health | ||||
| Mean SF-36: vitality (SD) | 46.3 (21.9) | – | 49.4 (23.0) | – |
| Mean SF-36: general health (SD) | 57.0 (23.2) | – | 60.0 (22.6) | – |
| Mean Hypothyroid Index (SD)c | −8.4 (16.9) | – | −10.6 (13.1) | – |
IQR = interquartile range. SD = standard deviation. TSH = thyroid stimulating hormone.
a
Information missing for 8 participants.
b
Information missing for 27 participants.
c
Hypothyroid Index (10 items) is a modified version of the Billewicz Hypothyroid Index.18