title: Thyroid dysfunction in adults over age 55 years. A study in an urban US community.
abstract: The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was determined in a healthy urban population over the age of 55 years. A highly sensitive serum thyrotropin assay was used initially to screen 968 subjects. Elevated values (greater than 6 mU/L) were found in 7.3%, while suppressed values (less than 0.1 mU/L) were present in 2.5% subjects. Protirelin stimulation testing demonstrated exaggerated responses in 95% of the subjects with elevated thyrotropin levels and subnormal responses in 81% of the subjects with suppressed thyrotropin levels. Thyroid dysfunction, as defined by abnormalities of both serum thyrotropin level and protirelin response, was calculated to be present in 8.9% of the population. The prevalence was greater in whites (vs blacks), in women, and in subjects older than 75 years as compared with the 55- to 64-year age group. Hypothyroidism was calculated to be present in 6.9% subjects. Despite an increased prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in these subjects, only 8.5% of them had subnormal serum thyroxine concentrations. Hyperthyroidism was calculated to be present in 2.0% of the population, two thirds of whom were taking thyroid hormone preparations. These results suggest a significant prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in the elderly, with important sex and racial differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bagchi
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Parish
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin