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Adverse health effects which impact quality of life (QoL) have been reported in individuals with hypothyroidism, but when treated, patient satisfaction does not always also improve [Hegedüs, 2022]. Approximately 10% of patients have persistent symptoms of ill health despite normalisation of thyroid function tests biochemically [Taylor, 2024]. This phenomenon was not found to be related to age, sex, BMI, menopausal status, stress, serum thyroid parameters, the origin and duration of hypothyroidism, the type of thyroid medication, or the LT4 dose used [Molewijk, 2024]. A large, population-based study has found that thyroid hormone users had more comorbidity than individuals not using thyroid hormone, and the coexistence of other chronic medical conditions further reduced QoL in an additive manner [Wouters, 2023]. The comorbidities of hypothyroidism include dyslipidaemia, hypertension, fatigue or (possibly) cardiovascular disease, and can be apparent whether or not intervention with LT4 is applied appropriately to ensure biochemical euthyroidism [Brenta, 2025]. In addition, common treatments, including metformin, glucocorticoids or proton pump inhibitors, may alter levels of thyrotropin, impacting the monitoring of thyroid hormones and the diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction [Brenta, 2025].
After listening to this activity, participants should be able to:
Endocrinologists and other healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and management of thyroid disorders.
English with simultaneous translation into Spanish and Chinese
Podcast & Infographic
Quality of life for patients with hypothyroidism
Martin Savage is Emeritus Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology at William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London. He was head of the Paediatric Endocrine Unit at Barts and the London School of Medicine from 1982 to 2007. He has interests in growth disorders, specifically those with abnormalities in the GH-IGF-1 axis and in phenotype-genotype relationships of GH-IGF-1 axis defects, notably GH resistance. He published the first human case of an IGF-1 gene defect in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1996. His other interests are Cushing’s syndrome and growth in chronic inflammatory diseases. He was General Secretary of the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) from 1997 to 2004. He has lectured in 60 countries and has published 482 original articles, reviews, textbook chapters and books. In 2007, he was awarded the ESPE Andrea Prader Prize for contributions to paediatric endocrinology and in 2018 he received a Visionary Award from the American Human Growth Foundation. In 2022, he received a Research Excellence Award from the Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Journal in Riyadh, and the British Society of Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes James M. Tanner Lifetime Achievement Award. He continues to lecture nationally and internationally.
Jacqueline Jonklaas is currently a professor in the endocrinology division at Georgetown University. Dr. Jonklaas completed her medical degree, residency, and fellowship training at Georgetown University. Her time is equally divided between research, clinical activities, and teaching. Her area of particular interest is the management of thyroid cancer and hypothyroidism. Dr. Jonklaas has published research regarding treatment and outcomes in patients with thyroid cancer. She conducts research into thyroid cancer outcomes and the side effects of radioactive iodine therapy. She has also studied therapy for hypothyroidism and was the lead author on the American Thyroid Association’s 2014 guidelines for the treatment of hypothyroidism. She is involved in translational research and the activities of the Georgetown University’s Clinical and Translational Science Award. She is the director of the Georgetown Clinical Research Unit. Dr. Jonklaas is involved in teaching at both a national and local level. She teaches endocrinology to residents and fellows in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. She teaches endocrinology to medical students. She has been a member of the American Thyroid Association since 1999, serves on the editorial board of the journal Thyroid, serves on the Board of Directors of the American Thyroid Association, and is the current President. She was co-chair of the American Thyroid Association Task Force on Thyroid Hormone Replacement and co-chair of the American Thyroid Association Guidelines and Statements Committee. She has been a member of the Endocrine Society since 1997, has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism and has also served as a member of the Endocrine Board Review Faculty.
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