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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Scott Wilkes, Professor Simon PearceORCiD, Vicky Ryan, Dr Tim Rapley, Lorna Ingoe, Dr Salman Razvi
BACKGROUND: The population of the UK is ageing. There is compelling evidence that thyroid stimulating hormone distribution levels increase with age. Currently, in UK clinical practice elderly hypothyroid patients are treated with levothyroxine to lower their thyroid stimulating hormone levels to a standard non-age-related range. Evidence suggests that mortality is negatively associated with thyroid stimulating hormone levels. We report the protocol of a feasibility study working towards a full-scale randomized controlled trial to test whether lower dose levothyroxine has beneficial cardiovascular outcomes in the oldest old. METHODS/DESIGN: SORTED is a mixed methods study with three components: SORTED A: A feasibility study of a dual-center single-blinded randomized controlled trial of elderly hypothyroid patients currently treated with levothyroxine. SETTING: Patients will be recruited from 20 general practices and two hospital trust endocrine units in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear. PARTICIPANTS: Target recruitment of 50 elderly hypothyroid patients currently treated with levothyroxine, identified in both primary and secondary care settings. INTERVENTION: Reduced dose of levothyroxine to achieve an elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (target range 4.1 to 8.0 mU/L) versus standard levothyroxine replacement (target range 0.4 to 4.0 mU/L). RANDOMIZATION: Using random permuted blocks, in a ratio of 1:1, randomization will be carried out by Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit. OUTCOMES: Study feasibility (recruitment and retention rates and medication compliance), acceptability of the trial design, assessment of mobility and falls risk, and change in cardiovascular risk factors. SORTED B: Qualitative study using in-depth interviews to understand patients' willingness to take part in a randomized controlled trial and participants' experience of the intervention. SORTED C: Retrospective cohort study of 400 treated hypothyroid patients aged 80 years or over registered in 2008 in primary care practices, studying their 4-year cardiovascular outcomes to inform the power of SORTED II. DISCUSSION: This is a study to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial in elderly hypothyroid patients in general practice and hospital settings. The results will inform the design of the definitive SORTED II trial to evaluate the effects of lower dose thyroxine in elderly hypothyroid patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN16043724.
Author(s): Wilkes S, Pearce SH, Ryan V, Rapley T, Ingoe L, Razvi S
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Trials
Year: 2013
Volume: 14
Print publication date: 22/03/2013
Date deposited: 28/06/2013
ISSN (electronic): 1745-6215
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-14-83
DOI: 10.1186/1745-6215-14-83
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