Thyroid screening in elderly hospital patients.
A screening programme of thyroid disease in 214 elderly patients attending hospital was undertaken incorporating clinical and biochemical assessment. The prevalence of untreated hypothyroidism was 2.8%, treated hypothyroidism 2.8%, untreated hyperthyroidism 0.9%, sub-clinical hypothyroidism 4.7%, and non-thyroidal illness 3.3%. One patient with hypopituitarism was identified. Clinical judgement alone was poor. The costs of such a screening programme are discussed and the benefits highlighted.
Byrne
E
E
Gilmore
D H
DH
Beringer
T R
TR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009660:Northern Ireland; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*