Health-Related Quality of Life in Levothyroxine-Treated Hypothyroid Women and Women without Hypothyroidism: A Case–Control Study

Abstract

The use of levothyroxine is not always related to the elimination of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. The aim of this study is to compare the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of a group of hypothyroid women under levothyroxine treatment with that of a group of non-hypothyroid women. Methodology: A case–control study was performed. We used convenience sampling. The case group consisted of 152 levothyroxine-treated hypothyroid women; the control group consisted of 238 women without hypothyroidism disorders. All of the participants were euthyroid according to the clinical practice guidelines. We used as instruments the Short Form-12 questionnaire (SF-12v1) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Results: Hypothyroid women scored significantly lower in HRQOL in SF-12v1 mental and physical components than the control group (mental component summary: 41.23 ± 12.12 vs. 46.45 ± 10.22, p < 0.001; physical component summary: 49.64 ± 10.16 vs. 54.75 ± 5.76, p < 0.001). body mass index (BMI) and age showed an influence on the physical component (p < 0.001 in both variables). Adjusted for age and BMI, hypothyroidism was still related to worse scores (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Despite being euthyroid, women with hypothyroidism showed a poorer quality of life than women without hypothyroidism. Health professionals need to assess the HRQOL of women with hypothyroidism. Further research on HRQOL and hypothyroidism is needed.

Assessment of Quality of Life Among Patients With Primary Hypothyroidism: A Case-Control Study

“…The current study concluded that an individual's overall mental health is strongly influenced by two major factors, one of them being smoking. This finding is contrary to those of a previous study that suggested that tobacco consumption had no connection with the HRQoL in women with hypothyroidism [ 16 ]. In concordance with the findings of Morón-Diaz et al (2021), our data demonstrated an association between QOL and cigarette consumption [ 23 ].…”

“…A compatible study revealed that HRQoL was affected by hypothyroidism [ 16 ]. Another study that evaluated the potential association between hypothyroidism and QoL in relation to BMI, revealed that patients with hypothyroidism have impaired QoL and experienced more problems with physical functioning [ 10 ].…”

Effects of Hypothyroidism on Women

“…The importance of levothyroxine is not constantly linked to the disappearance of hypothyroidism symptoms. The goal of this survey is to evaluate the health-linked quality of life (HRQOL) of hypothyroid ladies treated with levothyroxine to that of nohypothyroid ladies [2]. Objective In premenopausal women, even modest hypothyroidism causes problems with sexual function.…”

“…The goal of the study was to see how levothyroxine, given alone or in conjunction with liothyronine, affected sexual function and depressed signs in premenopausal ladies who were being given for hypothyroidism. Methods This single-blind, quasi-randomized experimental included 39 young ladies who were taking levothyroxine and had clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism despite having normal thyrotropin and thyroid hormone levels [2].…”

“…Hypothyroidism manifests itself in a variety of ways (obesity, arrhythmias, mood swings etc.). The study's goals were to [1] determine the occurrence of apprehension and misery in hypothyroid women cured with levothyroxine versus women without hypothyroidism, and [2] identify characteristics linked to anxiety and depression. Techniques: With 393 women, a case-control study was conducted.…”