title: The PAQUID survey and correlates of subclinical hypothyroidism in elderly community residents in the southwest of France.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of increased thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels (subclinical or undiagnosed hypothyroidism) in a representative sample of a community-living elderly population and to examine the relationships with cognitive functions and depressive symptoms. An epidemiological study was made of a cohort of 2792 subjects over 65 years of age. A blood sample was obtained from 425 volunteers of this cohort and assayed for TSH. Every subject participating in the study was interviewed and given a battery of neuropsychological tests by a psychologist. Three hundred and eighty-one subjects (89.7%) had normal TSH levels; 18 subjects (4.2%) had TSH lower than 0.4 microU/ml, associated in two of them with hyperthyroxinaemia. Twenty-six subjects (6.1%) had increased TSH levels, associated in 18 of them with a normal free thyroxine level and in eight with a low free thyroxine level. Increased TSH levels were significantly linked with female sex and with the presence of symptoms of depression on the CES-D scale but not with impairment of cognitive function.
authors.affiliation: Centre Régional de Gériatrie, Université de Bordeaux II, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manciet
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dartigues
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Decamps
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barberger-Gateau
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Letenneur
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Latapie
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Latapie
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine