title: Screening for thyroid dysfunction in a community population of diabetic patients.
abstract: In a general practice population of 11,300 patients, 223 were known to have diabetes mellitus. Thirteen diabetic patients (5.8%) had a previous diagnosis of thyroid disease. The study excluded 17 patients who received sole diabetes care at a secondary referral centre (of whom 5 had a previous diagnosis of thyroid disease), 8 with a previous diagnosis of thyroid disease receiving community care, and 1 patient who declined screening. New thyroid disease was diagnosed in 11 patients (8 female, 3 male): 5 with primary hypothyroidism, 4 with subclinical hypothyroidism, 1 with hyperthyroidism and 1 with subclinical hyperthyroidism. Thus the prevalence of undiagnosed thyroid disease in diabetic patients receiving community diabetes care was 5.5% (9.5% of female patients), and the prevalence of thyroid disease (previously known and diagnosed as a result of screening) in the entire population of diabetic patients registered in the general practice was 10.8%. These findings suggest that screening for thyroid disease should be considered in patients receiving diabetes care in the community.
authors.affiliation: Well Close Square Surgery, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Smithson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests