TY - JOUR
T1 - An individual participant data analysis of prospective cohort studies on the association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and depressive symptoms
AU - Wildisen, Lea
AU - Del Giovane, Cinzia
AU - Moutzouri, Elisavet
AU - Beglinger, Shanthi
AU - Syrogiannouli, Lamprini
AU - Collet, Tinh-Hai
AU - Cappola, Anne R.
AU - Asvold, Bjørn O.
AU - Bakker, Stephan J. L.
AU - Yeap, Bu B.
AU - Almeida, Osvaldo P.
AU - Ceresini, Graziano
AU - Dullaart, Robin P. F.
AU - Ferrucci, Luigi
AU - Grabe, Hans
AU - Jukema, J. Wouter
AU - Nauck, Matthias
AU - Trompet, Stella
AU - Voelzke, Henry
AU - Westendorp, Rudi
AU - Gussekloo, Jacobijn
AU - Kloppel, Stefan
AU - Aujesky, Drahomir
AU - Bauer, Douglas
AU - Peeters, Robin
AU - Feller, Martin
AU - Rodondi, Nicolas
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - In subclinical hypothyroidism, the presence of depressive symptoms is often a reason for starting levothyroxine treatment. However, data are conflicting on the association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and depressive symptoms. We aimed to examine the association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and depressive symptoms in all prospective cohorts with relevant data available. We performed a systematic review of the literature from Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Cochrane Library from inception to 10th May 2019. We included prospective cohorts with data on thyroid status at baseline and depressive symptoms during follow-up. The primary outcome was depressive symptoms measured at first available follow-up, expressed on the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) scale (range 0-63, higher values indicate more depressive symptoms, minimal clinically important difference: 5 points). We performed a two-stage individual participant data (IPD) analysis comparing participants with subclinical hypo- or hyperthyroidism versus euthyroidism, adjusting for depressive symptoms at baseline, age, sex, education, and income (PROSPERO CRD42018091627). Six cohorts met the inclusion criteria, with IPD on 23,038 participants. Their mean age was 60 years, 65% were female, 21,025 were euthyroid, 1342 had subclinical hypothyroidism and 671 subclinical hyperthyroidism. At first available follow-up [mean 8.2 (+/- 4.3) years], BDI scores did not differ between participants with subclinical hypothyroidism (mean difference = 0.29, 95% confidence interval = - 0.17 to 0.76, I-2 = 15.6) or subclinical hyperthyroidism (- 0.10, 95% confidence interval = - 0.67 to 0.48, I-2 = 3.2) compared to euthyroidism. This systematic review and IPD analysis of six prospective cohort studies found no clinically relevant association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction at baseline and depressive symptoms during follow-up. The results were robust in all sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Our results are in contrast with the traditional notion that subclinical thyroid dysfunction, and subclinical hypothyroidism in particular, is associated with depressive symptoms. Consequently, our results do not support the practice of prescribing levothyroxine in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism to reduce the risk of developing depressive symptoms.
AB - In subclinical hypothyroidism, the presence of depressive symptoms is often a reason for starting levothyroxine treatment. However, data are conflicting on the association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and depressive symptoms. We aimed to examine the association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and depressive symptoms in all prospective cohorts with relevant data available. We performed a systematic review of the literature from Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Cochrane Library from inception to 10th May 2019. We included prospective cohorts with data on thyroid status at baseline and depressive symptoms during follow-up. The primary outcome was depressive symptoms measured at first available follow-up, expressed on the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) scale (range 0-63, higher values indicate more depressive symptoms, minimal clinically important difference: 5 points). We performed a two-stage individual participant data (IPD) analysis comparing participants with subclinical hypo- or hyperthyroidism versus euthyroidism, adjusting for depressive symptoms at baseline, age, sex, education, and income (PROSPERO CRD42018091627). Six cohorts met the inclusion criteria, with IPD on 23,038 participants. Their mean age was 60 years, 65% were female, 21,025 were euthyroid, 1342 had subclinical hypothyroidism and 671 subclinical hyperthyroidism. At first available follow-up [mean 8.2 (+/- 4.3) years], BDI scores did not differ between participants with subclinical hypothyroidism (mean difference = 0.29, 95% confidence interval = - 0.17 to 0.76, I-2 = 15.6) or subclinical hyperthyroidism (- 0.10, 95% confidence interval = - 0.67 to 0.48, I-2 = 3.2) compared to euthyroidism. This systematic review and IPD analysis of six prospective cohort studies found no clinically relevant association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction at baseline and depressive symptoms during follow-up. The results were robust in all sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Our results are in contrast with the traditional notion that subclinical thyroid dysfunction, and subclinical hypothyroidism in particular, is associated with depressive symptoms. Consequently, our results do not support the practice of prescribing levothyroxine in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism to reduce the risk of developing depressive symptoms.
KW - BASE-LINE CHARACTERISTICS
KW - OSTEOPOROTIC FRACTURES
KW - RISK-FACTORS
KW - HYPOTHYROIDISM
KW - METAANALYSIS
KW - HEALTH
KW - MEN
KW - DISEASE
KW - DESIGN
KW - STAGE
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-020-75776-1
DO - 10.1038/s41598-020-75776-1
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 33154486
VL - 10
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
SN - 2045-2322
IS - 1
M1 - 19111
ER -