A Chinese retrospective cohort study (n=2022) found acute phase quetiapine treatment is linked to an increased risk of developing new-onset hypothyroidism compared to placebo (15% vs 3.5%, respectively, RR 4.01; 95% CI, 2.86-5.64) with a clear dose-response association:
- a total of 2022 eligible patients were included in the final analysis
- sixty patients (15.0%) in the quetiapine group developed hypothyroidism, while 56 patients (3.5%) in the nonquetiapine group developed hypothyroidism
- relative risk (95% confidence interval) of developing hypothyroidism for quetiapine use was 4.01 (2.86-5.64) after adjusting for several potential confounding factors
- a strong dose-response association between quetiapine use and risk of developing hypothyroidism was observed: adjusted relative risks (95% confidence intervals) were 1.00 (0.25-2.59), 4.22 (2.80-6.25) and 5.62 (3.66-8.38), respectively, for low-, medium- and high-dose quetiapine, as compared with no quetiapine
- study authors concluded that:
- acute phase quetiapine treatment for schizophrenia patients was strongly associated with increased risk of developing new-onset hypothyroidism, with a clear dose-response association
Reference:
- Zhao, Y, Wen, SW, Li, M, et al. Dose–response association of acute-phase quetiapine treatment with risk of new-onset hypothyroidism in schizophrenia patients. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2021; 87( 12): 4823-4830. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.14928