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Published on: February 9, 2024

Hypothyroidism Prevalence in Children Aged 0 to 17 Years in the United States: A Real-World Study Using 2 National

Danielle Conrad1, Antonio C Bianco2, Andrew J Bauer3

  • 1Department of Global Epidemiology, AbbVie, North Chicago, Illinois.

Endocrine Practice : Official Journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
|August 8, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric hypothyroidism prevalence increased in very young children but decreased in older children from 2013-2022. Despite risks, many children with hypothyroidism, especially males, did not receive timely thyroid replacement therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Pediatric Health
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Pediatric hypothyroidism is a critical endocrine disorder requiring early intervention.
  • Timely thyroid replacement therapy is essential for healthy child development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the prevalence and treatment patterns of pediatric hypothyroidism in the US.
  • To analyze trends in hypothyroidism prevalence and treatment over a decade (2013-2022).

Main Methods:

  • Utilized two large US claims databases (2013-2022) to identify children (0-17 years) with hypothyroidism.
  • Analyzed annual prevalence, stratified by age, sex, and year, using diagnosis and prescription data.
  • Employed two-sample tests of proportion to compare prevalence across demographic groups.

Main Results:

  • Overall hypothyroidism prevalence was 3.49 per 1000 children in 2022.
  • Prevalence increased significantly in children under 3 years old but decreased in older children (4-17 years).
  • Approximately two-thirds of children received treatment; females were more likely to be treated than males.

Conclusions:

  • Observed distinct age- and sex-dependent trends in pediatric hypothyroidism prevalence.
  • A significant number of children with hypothyroidism remain undertreated, posing developmental risks.
  • Enhanced identification and treatment strategies are crucial for optimizing outcomes in pediatric hypothyroidism.
Abstract

Keywords:
epidemiologypediatric hypothyroidismprevalencethyroid replacement therapytreatment patterns

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