title: Hypothyroidism among SLE patients: Case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of hypothyroidism in SLE patients varies considerably and early reports were mainly based on small cohorts.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between SLE and hypothyroidism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with SLE were compared with age and sex-matched controls regarding the proportion of hypothyroidism in a case-control study. Chi-square and t-tests were used for univariate analysis and a logistic regression model was used for multivariate analysis. The study was performed utilizing the medical database of Clalit Health Services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 5018 patients with SLE and 25,090 age and sex-matched controls. The proportion of hypothyroidism in patients with SLE was increased compared with the prevalence in controls (15.58% and 5.75%, respectively, P<0.001). In a multivariate analysis, SLE was associated with hypothyroidism (odds ratio 2.644, 95% confidence interval 2.405-2.908).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with SLE have a greater proportion of hypothyroidism than matched controls. Therefore, physicians treating patients with SLE should be aware of the possibility of thyroid dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine 'B', Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel, Sackler; Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: Abdulla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Watad
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine 'B', Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel, Sackler; Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: Naim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mahroum
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine 'B', Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel, Sackler; Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Whitby
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine 'B', Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel, Sackler.
authors.forename: Smadar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gertel
authors.affiliation: Chief Physician's Office, Clalit Health Services Tel Aviv, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Comaneshter
authors.affiliation: Chief Physician's Office, Clalit Health Services Tel Aviv, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel; Siaal Research Center for Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Arnon D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine 'B', Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel, Sackler; Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. Electronic address: howard.amital@sheba.health.gov.il.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amital
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Autoimmune disease; Hypothyroidism; Polyautoimmunity; SLE; Thyroid dysfunction