The Impact of Subclinical Hypothyroidism on the Quality of Life During Pregnancy: Mapping 5-Level Version of EQ-5D and ThyPRO-39

Jan Tuzil; Barbora Filkova Pilnackova; Torquil Watt; Jan Jiskra; Marcela Koudelkova; Eva Novotna; Klara Tuzilova; Tomas Dolezal; Jana Bartakova

doi:10.1016/j.jval.2023.02.015

The Impact of Subclinical Hypothyroidism on the Quality of Life During Pregnancy: Mapping 5-Level Version of EQ-5D and ThyPRO-39

Value Health. 2023 Jul;26(7):1085-1097. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2023.02.015. Epub 2023 Mar 5.

Authors

Jan Tuzil¹, Barbora Filkova Pilnackova², Torquil Watt³, Jan Jiskra⁴, Marcela Koudelkova⁵, Eva Novotna⁶, Klara Tuzilova⁷, Tomas Dolezal⁸, Jana Bartakova⁹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Health Economics and Technology Assessment, Prague, Czech Republic; First Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: tuzil.jenik@gmail.com.
² Institute of Health Economics and Technology Assessment, Prague, Czech Republic.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Herlev Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁴ Third Department of Internal Medicine, General University Hospital, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
⁵ Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic, National Screening Centre, Praha, Czech Republic; Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
⁶ Outpatient gynecology Femcare s.r.o., Odolena Voda, Czech Republic.
⁷ GYNO SANET s.r.o., Prague, Czech Republic.
⁸ Institute of Health Economics and Technology Assessment, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
⁹ Department of Public Health, Institute of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Health Economics Facility, Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

PMID: 36878311
DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2023.02.015

Abstract

Objectives: To describe how subclinical hypothyroidism (SubHypo) influences the quality of life (QoL) during pregnancy.

Methods: In primary data collection (NCT04167423), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid peroxidase antibodies, generic quality of life (QoL; 5-level version of EQ-5D [EQ-5D-5L]), and disease-specific QoL (ThyPRO-39) were measured among pregnant women. SubHypo during each trimester was defined according to the 2014 European Thyroid Association guidelines (TSH > 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 IU/L, respectively; with normal FT4). Path analysis described relationships and tested mediation. Linear ordinary least squares, beta, tobit, and two-part regressions were used to map ThyPRO-39 and EQ-5D-5L. Alternative SubHypo definition was tested in sensitivity analysis.

Results: A total of 253 women at 14 sites (31 ± 5 years old, 15 ± 6 weeks pregnant) completed the questionnaires. Sixty-one (26%) had SubHypo and differed from 174 (74%) euthyroid women in smoking history (61% vs 41%), primiparity (62% vs 43%) and TSH level (4.1 ± 1.4 vs 1.5 ± 0.7 mIU/L, P < .001). EQ-5D-5L utility in SubHypo (0.89 ± 0.12) was lower than that in euthyroid (0.92 ± 0.11; P = .028) even after adjustment (difference -0.04, P = .033), whereas ocular (P = .001, ThyPRO-39), cognitive symptoms (P = .043), anxiety (P < .0001), and the composite score were higher. The impact of SubHypo on utility was mediated by anxiety. Results were confirmed by sensitivity analysis. Final mapping equation (ordinary least squares) includes goiter symptoms, anxiety, upset stomach, composite score (ThyPRO-39), FT4 levels, and week of pregnancy (determination coefficient 0.36).

Conclusion: This is the first QoL mapping of SubHypo during pregnancy and the first evidence that SubHypo is associated with a negative impact on QoL. The effect is mediated by anxiety. EQ-5D-5L utilities can be generated based on ThyPRO-39 scores collected in pregnant euthyroid and patients with SubHypo.

Keywords: EQ-5D; ThyPRO-39; hypothyroidism; pregnancy; quality of life.

Publication types

Clinical Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Anxiety
Female
Humans
Hypothyroidism*
Pregnancy
Quality of Life* / psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Thyrotropin

Substances

Thyrotropin

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT04167423