Hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus in an American Indian population.
BACKGROUND
The clinical relationship between diabetes and hypothyroidism is becoming more widely recognized. Although American Indians are disproportionately afflicted with diabetes, the occurrence of hypothyroidism within this group has not been previously reported.


METHODS
We present data from a retrospective chart review of health clinic data from a rural isolated northeastern tribe. A total of 156 cases of diabetes and 25 cases of hypothyroidism were identified among 892 eligible individuals living in the service area.


RESULTS
Both conditions exhibited strong sex differences. The prevalences of diabetes (21%) and hypothyroidism (5%) among women were higher than those observed among men (13% and 0.2%, respectively). The overall prevalence of hypothyroidism among women with diabetes (8.8%) varied by age ranging from 5% among women younger than 60 years to 21% among women aged 60 years and older.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support the need for further investigation of the association between diabetes and hypothyroidism in American Indian populations with high prevalence rates of diabetes. This association may be of particular interest to family physicians and other clinicians caring for American Indian populations.
Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263, USA. michalek@sc3102.med.buffalo.edu
A M
AM
Michalek
M C
MC
Mahoney
D
D
Calebaugh
D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution