Authors: Ling Lan, Yi-An Chou.
Aim: To explore the incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and association between SCH and rehabilitation functional outcome. Method: Two-year observational retrospective single-centered study was conducted in a tertiary general rehabilitation center.
Results: A total of 653 patients received intensive inpatient rehabilitation treatment. Main outcome measures include Functional Independence Measures (FIM). Length of stay (LOS), FIM gain and FIM efficiency, serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and Free Thyroxine (FT4). The incidence of patients discovered with SCH was 12.4% of the sampled population. All patients with SCH displayed an overall FIM gain of 26.9 (±2.19), compared to patients with normal TSH who had an average FIM gain of 23.8 (±1.85). The overall FIM efficiency was similar in both groups.
Conclusion: The incidence of SCH is high in tertiary general rehabilitation setting. All patients with SCH have obtained functional gains following rehabilitation treatment. Those with hyperthyroidism have lower FIM scores but the efficiency and length of stay of rehabilitation being similar in all groups.
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