Undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction, thyroid antibodies, and iodine excretion in a Mediterranean population.
The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction varies in different populations. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyze the prevalence of undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction and thyroid antibodies and their relationship with urine iodine excretion in a representative sample of 1,124 (55.5% women; mean age: 44.8 ± 15.2 years) non-hospitalized Mediterranean adults, in Catalonia (Spain). Free thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroperoxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies, and urine iodine were measured. Undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction was 5.3% (hypothyroidism 3.8%; 56.66% of these subjects were women). The total (diagnosed + undiagnosed) thyroid dysfunction was 8.9% (71.15% women). Thyroperoxidase antibodies were positive in 2.4% of men and 9.4% of women and thyroglobulin antibodies, in 1.3% of men and 3.8% of women. No differences were observed in urine iodine between groups with thyroid dysfunction and euthyroidism, or between subjects with positive or negative antibodies. In subjects over 60, undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction was 9.8% (hypothyroidism 6.9%, hyperthyroidism 3.3%; 36.36% women) and total thyroid dysfunction 13.61% (53.12% women). Women and men over 60 had similar thyroid dysfunction prevalence. Thus, aggressive case-finding should be recommended in both, over 60.
Endocrinology and Nutrition Service, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Crta. Canyet s/n, 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. alucas.germanstrias@gencat.cat
Anna
A
Lucas
María Teresa
MT
Julián
Ana
A
Cantón
Conxa
C
Castell
Roser
R
Casamitjana
Eva María
EM
Martínez-Cáceres
María Luisa
ML
Granada
D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D019083:Mediterranean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011153:Population; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000652:urine; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D007455:Iodine