title: Prevalence of thyroid function test abnormalities and anti-thyroid antibodies in an open population in Central México.
abstract: OBJECTIVE. To examine the prevalence of abnormal thyroid function tests and positive anti-thyroid antibodies in two Central Mexican cities. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Subjects 18 to 70 years old were randomly selected to participate in this survey. A questionnaire was given and blood samples were taken to measure TSH and free T4 levels as well as anti-TPO and anti- Tg antibodies. RESULTS. The mean TSH level in subjects without existing thyroid disease was 1.72 mIU/L; 0.64 and 3.74 mIU/L were the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles. The mean free T4 level was 1.02 ng/dL, and the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles were 0.78 and 1.31 ng/dL, respectively. There was a 2.5% prevalence of former diagnosed thyroid diseases, 3.9% of individuals were sub-hypo, and 1.1% had overt hypothyroidism. Total hypothyroidism prevalence was 7.48% (when we considered TSH levels greater than 4.5 mIU/L), but it was 11.03% when diagnosed with TSH values greater than 3.5 mIU/L. Factors associated with hypothyroidism were older age, positive family background of thyroid disease, and positive anti- TPO and anti-Tg antibodies. Subclinical and overt hyperthyroidism were found in 1.7% of participants. CONCLUSIONS. Abnormal thyroid function test prevalence in this population was high, but few participants were aware of having a thyroid disease. The prevalence of positive anti-thyroid antibodies was high. More studies are necessary to elucidate the effects of thyroid abnormalities on other aspects of health status and quality of life.
authors: Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro.
authors: Maria Ludivina
authors: ML
authors: Robles-Osorio
authors: Verónica
authors: V
authors: Zacarías-Rangel
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: García-Solís
authors: Hebert Luis
authors: HL
authors: Hernández-Montiel
authors: Juan Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Solís
authors: Ernesto
authors: E
authors: Sabath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine