Comparison of Epidemiological Data on Congenital Hypothyroidism in Europe with Those of Other Parts in the World

Abstract

The actual worldwide incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is based on the results of screening in parts of the world where screening is mandatory, i.e. most of Europe, USA, Canada, Cuba, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. In other parts of the world, some indications are given by the results of pilot studies. In Europe, mean overall incidence (1985-1990) for the countries included in our inquiry is 1/3801 – in each country for the same period: Austria 1/3,930, Belgium 1/3,750, Czechoslovakia 1/6,037, Denmark 1/3,777, Finland 1/3,969, France 1/4,132, FRG 1/3,827, Greece 1/3,314, Hungary 1/5,632, Israel 1/3,152, Italy 1/3,150, The Netherlands 1/3,723, Norway 1/3,069, Portugal 1/3,139, Spain 1/3,216, Switzerland 1/3,913, UK 1/3,398 and Turkey (pilot study 1989-1992) 1/2,943. In comparison, the figures for the USA for the whole country are similar for the mean overall incidence (1988-1990): 1/4,119. But large variations exist between the states, the reasons of which are perhaps related either to technical problems or to the ethnic background in each state. In Canada and Japan, modifications of screening procedures have led to similar figures for the last years in our possess, Canada (1986-1988) 1/3,884 and Japan (1990) 1/3,856. The figures (mean overall incidence) for Cuba (1987-1991) 1/2,325, for Australia (1985-1990) 1/1/3,331 and for New Zealand (1987-1990) 1/4,496 are quite comparable. So in these countries where the screening is established, no great variations are noted as in certain parts of the world with pilot studies: Argentine (Buenos Aires; 1985-1990) 1/4,407, Chile (1991-1992) 1/2,514, Brazil (Porto Alegre; 1987-1991) 1/4,429. In Mexico (1990-1991), it is 1/1,480; however, the overall incidence is higher, in the two pilot studies carried out in Ecuador. On the other hand, a pilot study carried out in São Paulo (1982-1991) on 1,794,051 tests is 1/14,352; the low incidence should be related to the ethnic background or/and techniques of screening.

Evolução do programa de triagem neonatal para o hipotireoidismo congênito e fenilcetonúria no Estado de Sergipe de 1995 a 2003

“…Desta forma, a triagem apresenta valor inquestionável, sendo realizada em muitos países (1,17,18). O mérito do programa, o objetivo da presente pesquisa, é a avaliação da cobertura e do tempo gasto nas diversas etapas do referido programa, haja vista que os atrasos no tratamento também são provocados por problemas administrativos, principalmente nos países tecnologicamente atrasados, devido à dificuldade que a população tem quanto ao acesso à cultura formal (educação escolar de qualidade) que exercita o raciocínio subjetivo e o contato com a ciên-cia, legitimando-a e fazendo com que as orientações do serviço de saúde sejam melhor atendidas.…”

“…A incidência no Serviço Público de 1/4850 para o HC e de 1/23036 para o PKU está em conformidade com a literatura (17,18,22,23). As concentrações de T4, TSH, PKU, nos casos, também estão de acordo com a literatura (9)(10)(11)15,19,20,(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37).…”

Hipotiroidismo congénito, la primera causa de retraso mental prevenible: un desafío para la medicina preventiva

“…La prevalencia de HC en el mundo es de un afectado por cada 3000 RN vivos y su incidencia es de uno por cada 3000 a 4000 habitantes [13][14][15] . La incidencia se ve aumentada en embarazos múltiples y en madres mayores de 39 años 16 .…”

Review Article on Congenital Hypothyroidism and Newborn Screening Program in Africa; the Present Situation and the Way Forward

“…Each of this method has its own draw back. Both programs may be fraught with human error with a number of infants missed with CH, however with years of experience and automation, this is now quite small [30] One of the first discoveries of the screening program is that the incidence of CH was higher than anticipated from the clinically determined incidence of 1: 6,300 in early 1980s, The reported [31] incidence based on screening ranged from 1; 3300 in Europe to 1: 5700 in Japan, with incidence in most areas being 1:4500. Thus about 30% of infants diagnosed by newborn screening would not have been diagnosed clinically, until the infant would have been old and brain damaged [32].…”