Neonatal heel prick screening TSH concentration in the Netherlands as indicator of iodine status

Abstract Background Neonatal Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (nTSH) is proposed as indicator of iodine deficiency in a population. Population’s iodine sufficiency is indicated by a proportion of the newborns less than 3% having nTSH above 5 mIU/L. The aim of this study was to explore the Dutch neonatal heel prick screening TSH data to assess iodine status in the Netherlands and identify determinants and potential confounders of this assessment. Methods All newborns born in the Netherlands between 2007 and 2015 with a heel prick collection at day 3-7 were included ( n = 1,435,600), except preterm n... Mehr ...