Science and technology company Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, recently joined with Thyroid Federation International (TFI), Bath, ON, Canada, to commission an international survey among thyroid disorder patients highlighting some of the lesser-known aspects of thyroid disorders.

The survey was conducted to coincide with International Thyroid Awareness Week, which was held the week of May 21–27. The survey results were released in conjunction with the weeklong annual awareness campaign, and indicated that the journey to diagnosis can be difficult and distressing for many affected by thyroid disorders.1

The survey results revealed that 70% of responding hypothyroidism patients found the road to diagnosis a stressful one. In fact, 30% reported that getting their thyroid disorder diagnosis was at least as stressful as going on a first date, and 28% said it was as stressful as struggling to pay their bills.1

“Because thyroid disorders are still poorly understood and often go undiagnosed, our collaboration with TFI aims to ensure that people have the information they need to recognize symptoms associated with potential thyroid disorders,” says Francois Feig, head of the global business franchise in general medicine and endocrinology at Merck KGaA. “Patients can then seek advice from their doctor, who can perform the necessary examination, usually including a simple blood test, to check the function of the thyroid gland.”

Around 1.6 billion people worldwide are thought to be at risk of a thyroid disorder, with hundreds of millions of people living with a thyroid condition right now.2 Up to 60% of those living with a thyroid disorder are currently undiagnosed and may be needlessly struggling through their everyday lives without knowing the root cause of their symptoms.3

“Right now, there are hundreds of millions of people living with the burden of a thyroid disorder, without having ever received a diagnosis and appropriate treatment,” says Ashok Bhaseen, president of TFI. “For this year’s International Thyroid Awareness Week, now in its 10th year, we’re calling for change worldwide. We want to make a positive difference to the lives of millions who are impacted by thyroid disorders.”

Before receiving their diagnosis, most of the survey respondents (70%) were completely unaware that their symptoms were being caused by a thyroid disorder. Many of the responding patients reported that they had waited months or years before receiving their diagnosis; 40% of the respondents indicated that getting their diagnosis took somewhere between 4 months and 2 years.1

The survey also revealed the variety of ways in which an undiagnosed thyroid disorder can affect a person’s daily life. Almost half of respondents (49%) said that their physical appearance was affected before diagnosis. Additionally, 31% of respondents felt that their self-confidence had been affected by their undiagnosed thyroid disorder.1

For the survey, which was completed during April 2018, researchers conducted online interviews with more than 1,500 patients. Respondents ranged in age from 18 to 84, and included 250 hypothyroid patients each from the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain. Also included were another 250 Russian patients with a thyroid disorder.

For more information visit, Merck KGaA and International Thyroid Awareness Week.

References

  1. Censuswide. Thyroid Disorder Awareness International Survey (Tab 3). Commissioned by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. April 2018.
  1. 2. Khan A, Khan MMA, Akhtar S. Thyroid disorders, etiology and prevalence. J Med Sci. 2002;2(2):89–94; doi: 10.3923/jms.2002.89.94.
  1. Hypothyroidism (underactive) [online]. Falls Church, Va: American Thyroid Association, 2018. Available at: www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid/hypothyroidism-too-little-thyroid-hormone. Updated June 10, 2020.