TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and Risk Factors of Thyroid Dysfunction in Older Adults in the Community
AU - Diab, Nermin
AU - Daya, Natalie R.
AU - Juraschek, Stephen P.
AU - Martin, Seth S.
AU - McEvoy, John W.
AU - Schultheiß, Ulla T.
AU - Köttgen, Anna
AU - Selvin, Elizabeth
N1 - Funding Information:
The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract nos. (HHSN268201700001I, HHSN268201700003I, HHSN268201700005I, HHSN268201700004I, HHSN2682017000021). This research was also supported by NIH/NIDDK grants 2R01DK089174 and K24DK106414 to Dr. Selvin, and by the CRC 1140 of the German Research Foundation (Dr. Schultheiss and Dr. Köttgen). Dr. Schultheiss was supported by a scholarship from the Else Kroener Fresenius Foundation (NAKSYS). Dr. Juraschek was supported by a K23HL135273. Reagents for the thyroid function tests were donated by the Roche Diagnostics Corporation. The authors thank the staff and participants of the ARIC study for their important contributions.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, The Author(s).
PY - 2019/12/1
Y1 - 2019/12/1
N2 - Prevalence estimates and evidence informing treatment targets for thyroid dysfunction largely come from studies of middle-aged adults. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis to determine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and risk factors for abnormal thyroid tests in participants aged ≥65 in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study (N = 5,392). We measured serum concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (Anti-TPO), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). In this population (58% women, 22% black), 17% reported medication use for thyroid dysfunction. Among those not on treatment, the prevalence of overt and subclinical hypothyroidism was 0.82% and 6.06%, respectively. Overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism affected 0.26% and 0.78%, respectively. Multivariable adjusted TSH, FT4 and T3 levels were 25%, 1.3% and 3.9% lower in blacks compared to whites, respectively. Men were less likely to be anti-TPO positive compared to women (p < 0.001). Former and never smoking were associated with lower T3 and FT4 levels compared to current smoking. The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in older adults is nearly 25%. Multiple illnesses can interact to contribute to declines in health. Additional attention to thyroid dysfunction and screening in this age group is recommended.
AB - Prevalence estimates and evidence informing treatment targets for thyroid dysfunction largely come from studies of middle-aged adults. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis to determine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and risk factors for abnormal thyroid tests in participants aged ≥65 in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study (N = 5,392). We measured serum concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (Anti-TPO), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). In this population (58% women, 22% black), 17% reported medication use for thyroid dysfunction. Among those not on treatment, the prevalence of overt and subclinical hypothyroidism was 0.82% and 6.06%, respectively. Overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism affected 0.26% and 0.78%, respectively. Multivariable adjusted TSH, FT4 and T3 levels were 25%, 1.3% and 3.9% lower in blacks compared to whites, respectively. Men were less likely to be anti-TPO positive compared to women (p < 0.001). Former and never smoking were associated with lower T3 and FT4 levels compared to current smoking. The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in older adults is nearly 25%. Multiple illnesses can interact to contribute to declines in health. Additional attention to thyroid dysfunction and screening in this age group is recommended.
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U2 - 10.1038/s41598-019-49540-z
DO - 10.1038/s41598-019-49540-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 31511587
AN - SCOPUS:85072124691
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 9
JO - Scientific reports
JF - Scientific reports
IS - 1
M1 - 13156
ER -