This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (123)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

A Study in an Urban US Community

Nandalal Bagchi, MD, PhD; Thomas R. Brown, PhD; Ronald F. Parish, JD

Arch Intern Med. 1990;150(4):785-787.

Abstract
• The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was determined in a healthy urban population over the age of 55 years. A highly sensitive serum thyrotropin assay was used initially to screen 968 subjects. Elevated values (>6 mU/L) were found in 7.3%, while suppressed values (<0.1 mU/L) were present in 2.5% subjects. Protirelin stimulation testing demonstrated exaggerated responses in 95% of the subjects with elevated thyrotropin levels and subnormal responses in 81% of the subjects with suppressed thyrotropin levels. Thyroid dysfunction, as defined by abnormalities of both serum thyrotropin level and protirelin response, was calculated to be present in 8.9% of the population. The prevalence was greater in whites (vs blacks), in women, and in subjects older than 75 years as compared with the 55- to 64-year age group. Hypothyroidism was calculated to be present in 6.9% subjects. Despite an increased prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in these subjects, only 8.5% of them had subnormal serum thyroxine concentrations. Hyperthyroidism was calculated to be present in 2.0% of the population, two thirds of whom were taking thyroid hormone preparations. These results suggest a significant prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in the elderly, with important sex and racial differences.

(Arch Intern Med. 1990;150:785-787)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Internal Medicine (Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism), Wayne State University (Drs Bagchi and Brown) and the Metropolitan Society for Crippled Children and Adults (Dr Parish), Detroit, Mich.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication November 7,1989.

Reprint requests to Harper Hospital, 2WN, 3990 John R, Detroit, MI 48201 (Dr Bagchi).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Thyroid and the environment: exposure to excessive nutritional iodine increases the prevalence of thyroid disorders in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Camargo et al.
Eur J Endocrinol 2008;159:293-299.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevalence of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Chonchol et al.
CJASN 2008;3:1296-1300.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Clinical Significance of Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction
Biondi and Cooper
Endocr. Rev. 2008;29:76-131.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Thyroid Status, Cardiovascular Risk, and Mortality in Older Adults
Cappola et al.
JAMA 2006;295:1033-1041.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Incidence and Causes of Nondegenerative Nonvascular Dementia: A Population-Based Study
Knopman et al.
Arch Neurol 2006;63:218-221.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Thyroid Function and Prevalence of Anti-Thyroperoxidase Antibodies in a Population with Borderline Sufficient Iodine Intake: Influences of Age and Sex
Hoogendoorn et al.
Clin. Chem. 2006;52:104-111.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Spontaneous Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Patients Older than 55 Years: An Analysis of Natural Course and Risk Factors for the Development of Overt Thyroid Failure
Diez and Iglesias
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2004;89:4890-4897.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Subclinical hyperthyroidism: to treat or not to treat?
Hoogendoorn et al.
Postgrad. Med. J. 2004;80:394-398.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevalence of Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients With Meniere's Disease
Brenner et al.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2004;130:226-228.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Management of patients with thyroid disease: Oral health considerations
PINTO and GLICK
Journal of the American Dental Association 2002;133:849-858.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prospective Study of the Spontaneous Course of Subclinical Hypothyroidism: Prognostic Value of Thyrotropin, Thyroid Reserve, and Thyroid Antibodies
Huber et al.
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2002;87:3221-3226.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Hypothyroidism in Patients Older Than 55 Years: An Analysis of the Etiology and Assessment of the Effectiveness of Therapy
Diez
Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 2002;57:M315-320.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Association Between Thyroid Dysfunction and Total Cholesterol Level in an Older Biracial Population: The Health, Aging and Body Composition Study
Kanaya et al.
Arch Intern Med 2002;162:773-779.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Cardiac Dysrhythmias and Thyroid Dysfunction - The Hidden Menace?
Osman et al.
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2002;87:963-967.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Serum TSH, T4, and Thyroid Antibodies in the United States Population (1988 to 1994): National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III)
Hollowell et al.
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2002;87:489-499.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Subclinical Hypothyroidism Is Mild Thyroid Failure and Should be Treated
McDermott and Ridgway
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2001;86:4585-4590.
FULL TEXT  

Practice parameter: Diagnosis of dementia (an evidence-based review): Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology
Knopman et al.
Neurology 2001;56:1143-1153.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Subclinical thyrotoxicosis
Al-Abadi
Postgrad. Med. J. 2001;77:29-29.
FULL TEXT  

American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Detection of Thyroid Dysfunction
Ladenson et al.
Arch Intern Med 2000;160:1573-1575.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Urinary iodine concentrations and thyroid function in adult Zimbabweans during a period of transition in iodine status
Gomo et al.
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1999;70:888-891.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Diagnosis of Thyroid Disease in Hospitalized Patients: A Systematic Review
Attia et al.
Arch Intern Med 1999;159:658-665.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus: Differences among Individuals with and without Abnormal Thyroid Function
McCanlies et al.
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 1998;83:1548-1551.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction
Woeber
Arch Intern Med 1997;157:1065-1068.
ABSTRACT  

Chronic Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Dayan and Daniels
NEJM 1996;335:99-107.
FULL TEXT  

Low Serum Thyrotropin Concentrations as a Risk Factor for Atrial Fibrillation in Older Persons
Sawin et al.
NEJM 1994;331:1249-1252.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Female Gender as a Risk Factor for Torsades de Pointes Associated With Cardiovascular Drugs
Makkar et al.
JAMA 1993;270:2590-2597.
ABSTRACT