© Geriatric Times. All rights reserved.

Thyroid Disease More Common Than Previously Suspected

Study results confirm that thyroid dysfunction is common, may often go undetected and may be associated with adverse health outcomes that can be avoided by serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) measurement. According to Gay Canaris, M.D., et al., more than 13 million Americans may have an undiagnosed thyroid condition.

The researchers tested 25,862 people at a statewide health fair. The number of people taking thyroid medication at the time of the survey was 1,525 (5.9%). Among patients not taking thyroid medication, 8.9% had increased TSH and 1.0% had low TSH concentrations. Of the total participants, 9.5% had hypothyroidism and 2.2% had hyperthyroidism.

"The potential benefit of testing for abnormal thyroid function needs to be readdressed," the authors concluded.

The large study population provided other enlightening information. Those subjects who were not taking thyroid medication but had abnormal thyroid function were unaware of the problem prior to testing.

The researchers also found that 40% of patients were taking thyroid hormones below the therapeutic range. The authors suggest clinicians should consider monitoring patients on thyroid replacement more frequently. The study was published in the Feb. 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine-AV