[Subclinical thyroid disease in institutionalised healthy geriatric population].
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to determine the prevalence of subclinical thyroid disease in a healthy institutionalised geriatric population.


METHODS
We determined TSH, free T4 and antithyroid antibodies from 242 healthy elderly subjects living in Andalusian public nursing homes.


RESULTS
Subclinical hypothyroidism was detected in 3.71% of cases; clinical hypothyroidism in 1.65%; subclinical hyperthyroidism in 0.82%,and autoimmune disease in 10.33%.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high rate of clinically undetected thyroid dysfunction among the healthy institutionalised geriatric population. Therefore, a hormonal screening may be justified in this population.
Ayala
C
C
Servicio de Endocrinología, Hospital de Jerez, Cádiz.
Cózar
M V
MV
Rodríguez
J R
JR
Silva
H
H
Pereira
J L
JL
García-Luna
P P
PP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine