Italian guidelines for the management of adult individuals with primary hypothyroidism outside pregnancy.

AIM: The present guideline (GL) is aimed to improve and standardize the treatment of primary hypothyroidism in non-pregnant adults and to offer all the patients the best possible care across the Italian country.

TARGET POPULATION: Non-pregnant adults with hypothyroidism.

EXCLUDED POPULATION: This GL does not cover the treatment of hypothyroidism in children and adolescents under 18 years of age, in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, nor in subjects with central hypothyroidism. Also patients who require suppressive therapy with levothyroxine after thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer and those with transient iatrogenic hypothyroidism were not considered in this GL.

METHODS

The direct costs and the utilization of resources over time were evaluated for the implementation of the appropriate management within the National Health Service. Recommendations were based on the analysis, according to the GRADE methodology, of the evidence from literature. Patients preferences were collected and verified by means of specific bibliographic research and the active participation of two patients' representatives in the GL development group.

RESULTS

The present GL provides 4 formal graded recommendations and 16 ungraded indications for good clinical practice. An elevated agreement was consistently obtained among the panel members.

CONCLUSIONS

The present GL provides operative recommendations-based on the best available evidence and cost-effectiveness analysis-for the treatment of adult patients with primary hypothyroidism. The expected benefits from the dissemination, application and implementation of this GL are the improvement of the quality of care, its homogenization across the national territory and the rationalization of health expenditure in the respect of patient preferences.