Discontinuation of thyroid hormone treatment among children in the United States with congenital hypothyroidism: findings from health insurance claims data

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Thyroid hormone treatment in children with congenital hypothyroidism can prevent intellectual disability. Guidelines recommend that children diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism through newborn screening remain on treatment to at...

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Main Authors: Grosse Scott D, Ouyang Lijing, Kemper Alex R
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2010-02-01
Series:BMC Pediatrics
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2431/10/9
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author Grosse Scott D
Ouyang Lijing
Kemper Alex R
author_facet Grosse Scott D
Ouyang Lijing
Kemper Alex R
author_sort Grosse Scott D
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Thyroid hormone treatment in children with congenital hypothyroidism can prevent intellectual disability. Guidelines recommend that children diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism through newborn screening remain on treatment to at least 3 years of age, after which a trial off therapy can determine which children have transient hypothyroidism. The purpose of this study was to describe the rate at which children with congenital hypothyroidism in the United States discontinue thyroid hormone treatment in early childhood.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Retrospective analysis of the 2002-2006 MarketScan<sup>® </sup>Commercial Claims and Encounters research databases and the 2001-2005 MarketScan Multi-State Medicaid databases. Children were classified as having congenital hypothyroidism based on billing codes and having filled a prescription for thyroid hormone treatment. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis was used to determine discontinuation rates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were a total of 412 Medicaid-enrolled children and 292 privately-insured children with presumed congenital hypothyroidism included in this study. The overall birth prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism across both datasets was about 1 per 2,300. By 36 months, the percentage who had discontinued thyroid replacement treatment was 38% (95% Confidence Interval: 32%-44%). Medicaid-enrolled children had a more rapid decline in the first 24 months of treatment compared to those with private insurance (<it>P </it>= 0.02).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>More than one-third of children treated for congenital hypothyroidism discontinued treatment within 36 months, which is inconsistent with current guidelines. It is not known how many of these children required continued treatment or experience adverse effects from discontinuation. These findings emphasize the critical need for follow-up systems to monitor the outcome of newborn screening.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-6a2e7fdb283d49b7aa9cce6a3b0dbbea2022-12-21T19:52:16ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312010-02-01101910.1186/1471-2431-10-9Discontinuation of thyroid hormone treatment among children in the United States with congenital hypothyroidism: findings from health insurance claims dataGrosse Scott DOuyang LijingKemper Alex R<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Thyroid hormone treatment in children with congenital hypothyroidism can prevent intellectual disability. Guidelines recommend that children diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism through newborn screening remain on treatment to at least 3 years of age, after which a trial off therapy can determine which children have transient hypothyroidism. The purpose of this study was to describe the rate at which children with congenital hypothyroidism in the United States discontinue thyroid hormone treatment in early childhood.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Retrospective analysis of the 2002-2006 MarketScan<sup>® </sup>Commercial Claims and Encounters research databases and the 2001-2005 MarketScan Multi-State Medicaid databases. Children were classified as having congenital hypothyroidism based on billing codes and having filled a prescription for thyroid hormone treatment. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis was used to determine discontinuation rates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were a total of 412 Medicaid-enrolled children and 292 privately-insured children with presumed congenital hypothyroidism included in this study. The overall birth prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism across both datasets was about 1 per 2,300. By 36 months, the percentage who had discontinued thyroid replacement treatment was 38% (95% Confidence Interval: 32%-44%). Medicaid-enrolled children had a more rapid decline in the first 24 months of treatment compared to those with private insurance (<it>P </it>= 0.02).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>More than one-third of children treated for congenital hypothyroidism discontinued treatment within 36 months, which is inconsistent with current guidelines. It is not known how many of these children required continued treatment or experience adverse effects from discontinuation. These findings emphasize the critical need for follow-up systems to monitor the outcome of newborn screening.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2431/10/9
spellingShingle Grosse Scott D
Ouyang Lijing
Kemper Alex R
Discontinuation of thyroid hormone treatment among children in the United States with congenital hypothyroidism: findings from health insurance claims data
BMC Pediatrics
title Discontinuation of thyroid hormone treatment among children in the United States with congenital hypothyroidism: findings from health insurance claims data
title_full Discontinuation of thyroid hormone treatment among children in the United States with congenital hypothyroidism: findings from health insurance claims data
title_fullStr Discontinuation of thyroid hormone treatment among children in the United States with congenital hypothyroidism: findings from health insurance claims data
title_full_unstemmed Discontinuation of thyroid hormone treatment among children in the United States with congenital hypothyroidism: findings from health insurance claims data
title_short Discontinuation of thyroid hormone treatment among children in the United States with congenital hypothyroidism: findings from health insurance claims data
title_sort discontinuation of thyroid hormone treatment among children in the united states with congenital hypothyroidism findings from health insurance claims data
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2431/10/9
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AT kemperalexr discontinuationofthyroidhormonetreatmentamongchildrenintheunitedstateswithcongenitalhypothyroidismfindingsfromhealthinsuranceclaimsdata