Predictors of Improvement in Quality of Life When Treating Hypothyroidism
Table 1
Changes in thyroid function, QoL, REE, body composition, and cognitive function from L-T4 therapy.
Visit 1
Visit 2
Visit 3
Thyroid function
TSH (n = 37) (mU/l)
33 (14.0; 106)
2.2 (0.9; 4.2) 1c
1.5 (0.4; 2.7) 1c
Total T4, n = 29 (nmol/l)
59 (29)
122 (19) 1c
123 (21) 1c
Free T4, n = 7 (pmol/l)
8.0 (2.8)
15.7 (2.0) 1b
16.9 (1.9) 1c
Total T3 n = 36 (mmol/l)
1.2 (0.48)
1.5 (0.31) 1b
1.5 (0.26) 1c
QoL (ThyPRO-39) (n=37)
Composite score
30 (18; 64)
15 (7; 32) § 1c
14 (9; 22) 1c
Tiredness
61 (26.4)
35 (20.5) § 1c
35 (19.9) 1c
Emotional susceptibility
40 (29.7)
22 (22.0) § 1b
22 (21.5) 1c
REE (n=35)
REE (kcal/day)
1363 (229)
1445 (245) 1c
1446 (229) 1b
REE/FFM (kcal/day/kg)
26.6 (3.6)
28.9 (4.2) 1c
28.7 (4.4) 1c
Body composition (n=36)
Weight (kg)
80.2 (18.7)
79.0 (18.5) 1a
79.0 (18.1)
BMI (kg/m2)
27.1 (5.8)
26.6 (5.7) 1a
26.6 (5.6)
Fat mass (kg)
25.6 (10.9)
25.6 (11.1)
25.2 (10.8)
Fat-free mass (kg)
52.3 (11.5)
51.3 (11.7)
51.8 (11.6)
Cognitive function tests (n=35)
SRT1
509 (460; 610)
502 (450; 572)
508 (473; 569)
SRT2
515 (457; 609)
493 (445; 570)
525 (438; 624)
SDMT score (n = 36)
49.0 (9.1)
52.1 (9.2) 1c
53.7 (10.1) 1c
Parametric data presented as mean (SD) and nonparametric data if indicated by as median (1st and 3rd quartile (Q1–Q3)). 1a, 1b and 1c Significantly different from visit 1 (,, and , resp.); § n = 33; TSH, thyrotropin; T4, thyroxine; T3, triiodothyronine; QoL, quality of life; REE, resting energy expenditure; kcal, 1000 calories; BMI, body mass index; FFM, fat-free mass; SRT, sequential reaction time; SDMT, symbol digit modalities test.
