Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41196264›Full record

ArticleEuropean thyroid journal2025

Natural course of subclinical hyperthyroidism in primary care in the Netherlands.

Stan R Ursem, Wendy P J den Elzen, Jesse M van den Berg, Anita Boelen, Petra J M Elders, Raymond Noordam, Annemieke C Heijboer

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European thyroid journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Stan R UrsemEndocrine Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam and Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-9989-0821
Wendy P J den ElzenAmsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Jesse M van den BergDepartment of General Practice, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0003-3270-6641
Anita BoelenEndocrine Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam and Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-4994-2918
Petra J M EldersDepartment of General Practice, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Raymond NoordamDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Annemieke C HeijboerEndocrine Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam and Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-6712-9955

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Subclinical hyperthyroidism (SHT), a low serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and normal free thyroxine (FT4) concentration, has potential health implications, yet the epidemiology and factors influencing its natural course in a primary care setting remain unclear. Objectives: To investigate the incidence and natural course of SHT in primary care and assess guideline adherence to follow-up recommendations within Dutch primary care. Methods: Using a retrospective cohort design in general practitioner data from the PHARMO Data Network in the Netherlands (2012-2021), patients with biochemically confirmed SHT were followed to assess progression to hyperthyroidism, recovery, or persistence. Adherence to the Dutch primary care SHT guideline was evaluated. Results: The SHT annual incidence was approximately 200 per 100,000 person-years. Among the 11,163 SHT patients, 47% recovered, 11% persisted, and 8% progressed to overt hyperthyroidism over a median follow-up of 5 years. Lower TSH (<0.1 mU/L) and female sex were associated with lower odds of recovery (OR for TSH <0.1 mU/L: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.43-0.58; OR for women: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.70-0.96) and higher odds of progression to overt hyperthyroidism (OR for TSH <0.1 mU/L: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.97-2.83; OR for women: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.32-2.17). Guideline adherence evaluation showed that 33% received follow-up TSH measurement within 6 months, and 4% underwent TSH-receptor antibody testing. Conclusion: This study highlights that a small subset of SHT patients progress to overt hyperthyroidism. Factors increasing the odds for progression included lower baseline TSH and female sex. Our findings indicate a need for improved guideline adherence.

Indexed as

HyperthyroidismPrimary Health CareAdultAgedDisease ProgressionFemaleGuideline AdherenceHumansIncidenceMaleMiddle AgedNetherlandsRetrospective StudiesThyrotropinThyroxineThyrotropinThyroxineepidemiologyhyperthyroidismincidenceprimary caresubclinical hyperthyroidism

Identifiers

PMID41196264
PMCPMC12630534

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.