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A new guideline from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends against routine screening for thyroid dysfunction in nonpregnant adults without symptoms or risk factors. This guideline, which is based on a rigorous systematic review of the latest evidence, is published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal)
Routine testing for thyroid dysfunction is commonly ordered, by checking the “thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)” box on a blood test requisition form, although practice varies by primary care practitioner. An abnormal TSH level may indicate an underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
“If you are a clinician who orders TSH tests as part of preventive health visits, we would like you to reconsider this practice. The evidence isn’t there to suggest a health benefit for this type of screening as a routine part of care,” says Dr. Richard Birtwhistle, Emeritus professor of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences at Queen’s University and Chair of the Task Force Thyroid Dysfunction working group.
The task force identified no screening trials in their evidence review but looked at 22 studies on the effectiveness of treatment for abnormal TSH findings in asymptomatic adults and found no evidence of benefits from screening and treatment in people without symptoms.
Harms of unnecessary testing include the need to take medication unnecessarily and have regular medical visits and follow-up blood tests to check TSH levels.
“Patients who are unusually tired; sensitive to cold or heat; or experience hair loss, heartbeat irregularities, unexpected weight loss or gain should visit their primary care practitioner,” says Dr. Donna Reynolds, a family doctor and specialist in public health and preventive medicine and a member of the task force working group. “This recommendation does not apply to people with symptoms that may indicate an over- or under-active thyroid gland, or who have risk factors for thyroid disease, such as previous head or neck radiation, exposure to certain medications, and pituitary or hypothalamic diseases.”
Alignment with other guidelines
The British Columbia Ministry of Health and Toward Optimized Practice from Alberta recommend against testing for TSH in asymptomatic patients.
The College of Family Physicians of Canada, Nurse Practitioner Association of Canada and the Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism have endorsed the guideline.
“Given the lack of clinical effectiveness and the burden on patients, including financial costs, screening patients without symptoms consumes resources that could be better used elsewhere,” says Dr. Birtwhistle.
CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL