![](media/image1.png){width="5.972916666666666in"
height="0.4791666666666667in"}

Top of Form

## Complete Summary

#### TITLE

Hypothyroidism: the practice can produce a register of patients with
hypothyroidism.

#### SOURCE(S)

British Medical Association (BMA). Quality and outcomes framework
guidance. London (UK): British Medical Association (BMA); 2006. 132 p.

### Measure Domain

#### PRIMARY MEASURE DOMAIN

Structure

The validity of measures depends on how they are built. By examining the
key building blocks of a measure, you can assess its validity for your
purpose. For more information, visit the [Measure
Validity](http://www.qualitymeasures.ahrq.gov/resources/measure_domains.aspx)
page.

#### SECONDARY MEASURE DOMAIN

Does not apply to this measure

### Brief Abstract

#### DESCRIPTION

This measure is used to assess whether the practice can produce a
register of patients with hypothyroidism.

#### RATIONALE

Hypothyroidism is a common, serious condition with an insidious onset.
The mean incidence is 3.5 per 1000 in women, and 0.6 per 1000 in men.
The probability of developing hypothyroidism increases with age and
reaches 14 per 1000 in women aged between 75 and 80 years. There is a
clear consensus on how hypothyroidism should be treated. Monitoring of
hypothyroidism is almost entirely undertaken in primary care. This
measure is one of two
[Hypothyroid](http://www.qualitymeasures.ahrq.gov/browse/DisplayOrganization.aspx?org_id=1783&doc=7757#data)
measures.

A register is a prerequisite for monitoring patients with
hypothyroidism. Many patients will have been diagnosed at some time in
the past and the details of the diagnostic criteria may not be
available. For this reason, the patient population should consist of
those patients taking thyroxine with a recorded diagnosis of
hypothyroidism. The most effective method for identifying the patient
population would be a computer search for repeat prescribing of
thyroxine with a subsequent check of the records to confirm the clinical
diagnosis.

#### PRIMARY CLINICAL COMPONENT

Hypothyroidism; patient registry

#### DENOMINATOR DESCRIPTION

This measure applies to practices with a patient population that
includes individuals with a diagnosis of hypothyroidism (one practice at
a time).

#### NUMERATOR DESCRIPTION

The practice can produce a register of patients with hypothyroidism.

### Evidence Supporting the Measure

#### EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE CRITERION OF QUALITY

-   A formal consensus procedure involving experts in relevant clinical,
    methodological, and organizational sciences

### Evidence Supporting Need for the Measure

#### NEED FOR THE MEASURE

Unspecified

### State of Use of the Measure

#### STATE OF USE

Current routine use

#### CURRENT USE

Internal quality improvement\
National reporting\
Pay-for-performance

### Application of Measure in its Current Use

#### CARE SETTING

Physician Group Practices/Clinics

#### PROFESSIONALS RESPONSIBLE FOR HEALTH CARE

Physicians

#### LOWEST LEVEL OF HEALTH CARE DELIVERY ADDRESSED

Group Clinical Practices

#### TARGET POPULATION AGE

Does not apply to this measure

#### TARGET POPULATION GENDER

Does not apply to this measure

#### STRATIFICATION BY VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

Does not apply to this measure

### Characteristics of the Primary Clinical Component

#### INCIDENCE/PREVALENCE

See \"Rationale\" field.

#### ASSOCIATION WITH VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

See \"Rationale\" field.

#### BURDEN OF ILLNESS

Unspecified

#### UTILIZATION

Unspecified

#### COSTS

Unspecified

### Institute of Medicine National Healthcare Quality Report Categories

#### IOM CARE NEED

Not within an IOM Care Need

#### IOM DOMAIN

Not within an IOM Domain

### Data Collection for the Measure

#### CASE FINDING

Does not apply to this measure

#### DENOMINATOR SAMPLING FRAME

Does not apply to this measure

#### DENOMINATOR INCLUSIONS/EXCLUSIONS

**Inclusions**\
This measure applies to practices with a patient population that
includes individuals with a diagnosis of hypothyroidism (one practice at
a time).

**Exclusions**\
Unspecified

#### RELATIONSHIP OF DENOMINATOR TO NUMERATOR

Does not apply to this measure

#### DENOMINATOR (INDEX) EVENT 

Does not apply to this measure

#### DENOMINATOR TIME WINDOW

Does not apply to this measure

#### NUMERATOR INCLUSIONS/EXCLUSIONS

**Inclusions**\
The practice can produce a register of patients with hypothyroidism\*.

\***Note**: The patient population should consist of those patients
taking thyroxine with a recorded diagnosis of hypothyroidism.

**Exclusions**\
Unspecified

#### MEASURE RESULTS UNDER CONTROL OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, ORGANIZATIONS AND/OR POLICYMAKERS

The measure results are somewhat or substantially under the control of
the health care professionals, organizations and/or policymakers to whom
the measure applies.

#### NUMERATOR TIME WINDOW

Encounter or point in time

#### DATA SOURCE

Registry data

#### LEVEL OF DETERMINATION OF QUALITY

Does not apply to this measure

#### PRE-EXISTING INSTRUMENT USED

Unspecified

### Computation of the Measure

#### SCORING

Categorical Variable

#### INTERPRETATION OF SCORE

Passing score defines better quality

#### ALLOWANCE FOR PATIENT FACTORS

Does not apply to this measure

#### STANDARD OF COMPARISON

External comparison at a point in time\
Internal time comparison

### Evaluation of Measure Properties

#### EXTENT OF MEASURE TESTING

Unspecified

### Identifying Information

#### ORIGINAL TITLE

Thyroid 1. The practice can produce a register of patients with
hypothyroidism.

#### MEASURE COLLECTION

[Quality and Outcomes Framework
Indicators](http://www.qualitymeasures.ahrq.gov/Browse/DisplayOrganization.aspx?org_id=1783&doc=7688)

#### MEASURE SET NAME

[Hypothyroid](http://www.qualitymeasures.ahrq.gov/Browse/DisplayOrganization.aspx?org_id=1783&doc=7757)

#### DEVELOPER

British Medical Association\
National Health System (NHS) Confederation

#### FUNDING SOURCE(S)

The expert panel who developed the indicators are entirely funded by a
grant from the English Department of Health.

#### COMPOSITION OF THE GROUP THAT DEVELOPED THE MEASURE

The main indicator development group is based in the National Primary
Care Research and Development Centre in the University of Manchester.
They are: Professor Helen Lester NPCRDC, MB BCH MD, Dr. Stephen
Campbell, NPCRDC, PhD, Dr. Umesh Chauhan, NPCRDC, MB BS, PhD.

Others involved in the development of individual indicators are:
Professor Richard Hobbs, Dr. Richard McManus, Professor Jonathan Mant,
Dr. Graham Martin, Professor Richard Baker, Dr. Keri Thomas, Professor
Tony Kendrick, Professor Brendan Delaney, Professor Simon De Lusignan,
Dr. Jonathan Graffy, Dr. Henry Smithson, Professor Sue Wilson, Professor
Claire Goodman, Dr. Terry O\'Neill, Dr. Philippa Matthews, Dr. Simon
Griffin, Professor Eileen Kaner.

#### FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES/OTHER POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

None for the main indicator development group.

#### ENDORSER

National Health Service (NHS)

#### ADAPTATION

Measure was not adapted from another source.

#### RELEASE DATE

2004 Apr

#### REVISION DATE

2006 Feb

#### MEASURE STATUS

**Please note**: This measure has been updated. The National Quality
Measures Clearinghouse is working to update this summary.

#### SOURCE(S)

British Medical Association (BMA). Quality and outcomes framework
guidance. London (UK): British Medical Association (BMA); 2006. 132 p.

#### MEASURE AVAILABILITY

The individual measure, \"Thyroid 1. The practice can produce a register
of patients with hypothyroidism,\" is published in the \"Quality and
outcomes framework guidance.\" An update of this document is available
in Portable Document Format (PDF) from the [British Medical Association
Web site](http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/Hubqualityandoutcomes).

#### NQMC STATUS

This NQMC summary was completed by ECRI on October 9, 2006. The
information was verified by the measure developer on November 1, 2006.

#### COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

No copyright restrictions apply.

### Disclaimer

#### NQMC DISCLAIMER

The National Quality Measures Clearinghouse™ (NQMC) does not develop,
produce, approve, or endorse the measures represented on this site.

All measures summarized by NQMC and hosted on our site are produced
under the auspices of medical specialty societies, relevant professional
associations, public and private organizations, other government
agencies, health care organizations or plans, individuals, and similar
entities.

Measures represented on the NQMC Web site are submitted by measure
developers, and are screened solely to determine that they meet the NQMC
Inclusion Criteria which may be found at
<http://www.qualitymeasures.ahrq.gov/about/inclusion.aspx>.

NQMC, AHRQ, and its contractor ECRI Institute make no warranties
concerning the content or its reliability and/or validity of the quality
measures and related materials represented on this site. The inclusion
or hosting of measures in NQMC may not be used for advertising or
commercial endorsement purposes.

Readers with questions regarding measure content are directed to contact
the measure developer.

Bottom of Form

© 2008 National Quality Measures Clearinghouse

Date Modified: 11/10/2008