title: Frax score calculations in postmenopausal women with subclinical hypothyroidism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between the elevated TSH and fracture risk in postmenopausal women with subclinical hypothyroidism for evaluation of individuals with a high risk for osteoporotic fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  FRAX score calculation (10-year estimated risk for bone fracture) and measurement of bone markers (osteocalcin and beta cross-laps) were performed in 82 postmenopausal women with newly discovered subclinical hypothyroidism (mean age 59.17±7.07, mean BMI 27.89±3.46kg/m2, menopause onset in 48.05±4.09 years of age) and 51 matched controls (mean age 59.69±5.72, mean BMI 27.68±4.66kg/m2, menopause onset in 48.53±4.58 years of age) with normal thyroid function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main FRAX score was significantly higher in the group with subclinical hypothyroidism than in the controls (6.50±4.58 vs. 4.35±1.56; p=0.001). Hip FRAX score was significantly higher in the group with subclinical hypothyroidism (1.11±1.94 vs. 0.50±0.46; p=0.030). There was no significant difference in bone markers: osteocalcin (23.99±12.63 vs. 21.79±5.34 ng/mL; p=0.484) and beta cross-laps (365.76±184.84 vs. 306.88±110.73 pg/mL; p=0.21) between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postmenopausal patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, in particular of autoimmune origin, have higher FRAX scores and a thus greater risk for low-trauma hip fracture than euthyroid postmenopausal women. Our results point to the need to monitor postmenopausal patients with subclinical hypothyroidism for avoidance of fractures.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Snezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polovina
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Popovic
authors.forename: Leonidas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duntas
authors.forename: Natasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milic
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Micic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology*; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000209:etiology*; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000032:analysis; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine