TY - JOUR
T1 - The colorado thyroid disease prevalence study
AU - Canaris, Gay J.
AU - Manowitz, Neil R.
AU - Mayor, Gilbert
AU - Ridgway, E. Chester
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2000/2/28
Y1 - 2000/2/28
N2 - Context: The prevalence of abnormal thyroid function in the United States and the significance of thyroid dysfunction remain controversial. Systemic effects of abnormal thyroid function have not been fully delineated, particularly in cases of mild thyroid failure. Also, the relationship between traditional hypothyroid symptoms and biochemical thyroid function is unclear. Objective: To determine the prevalence of abnormal thyroid function and the relationship between (1) abnormal thyroid function and lipid levels and (2) abnormal thyroid function and symptoms using modern and sensitive thyroid tests. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: Participants in a statewide health fair in Colorado, 1995 (N = 25 862). Main Outcome Measures: Serum thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]) and total thyroxine (T4) concentrations, serum lipid levels, and responses to a hypo- thyroid symptoms questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of elevated TSH levels (nor- mal range, 0.3-5.1 mlU/L) in this population was 9.5%, and the prevalence of decreased TSH levels was 2.2%. Forty percent of patients taking thyroid medications had abnormal TSH levels. Lipid levels increased in a graded fashion as thyroid function declined. Also, the mean total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of subjects with TSH values between 5.1 and 10 mIU/L were significantly greater than the corresponding mean lipid levels in euthyroid subjects. Symptoms were reported more often in hypothyroid vs euthyroid individuals, but individual symptom sensitivities were low. Conclusions: The prevalence of abnormal biochemical thyroid function reported here is substantial and con- firms previous reports in smaller populations. Among patients taking thyroid medication, only 60% were within the normal range of TSH. Modest elevations of TSH corresponded to changes in lipid levels that may affect cardiovascular health. Individual symptoms were not very sensitive, but patients who report multiple thyroid symptoms warrant serum thyroid testing. These results confirm that thyroid dysfunction is common, may often go undetected, and may be associated with ad- verse health outcomes that can be avoided by serum TSH measurement.
AB - Context: The prevalence of abnormal thyroid function in the United States and the significance of thyroid dysfunction remain controversial. Systemic effects of abnormal thyroid function have not been fully delineated, particularly in cases of mild thyroid failure. Also, the relationship between traditional hypothyroid symptoms and biochemical thyroid function is unclear. Objective: To determine the prevalence of abnormal thyroid function and the relationship between (1) abnormal thyroid function and lipid levels and (2) abnormal thyroid function and symptoms using modern and sensitive thyroid tests. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: Participants in a statewide health fair in Colorado, 1995 (N = 25 862). Main Outcome Measures: Serum thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]) and total thyroxine (T4) concentrations, serum lipid levels, and responses to a hypo- thyroid symptoms questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of elevated TSH levels (nor- mal range, 0.3-5.1 mlU/L) in this population was 9.5%, and the prevalence of decreased TSH levels was 2.2%. Forty percent of patients taking thyroid medications had abnormal TSH levels. Lipid levels increased in a graded fashion as thyroid function declined. Also, the mean total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of subjects with TSH values between 5.1 and 10 mIU/L were significantly greater than the corresponding mean lipid levels in euthyroid subjects. Symptoms were reported more often in hypothyroid vs euthyroid individuals, but individual symptom sensitivities were low. Conclusions: The prevalence of abnormal biochemical thyroid function reported here is substantial and con- firms previous reports in smaller populations. Among patients taking thyroid medication, only 60% were within the normal range of TSH. Modest elevations of TSH corresponded to changes in lipid levels that may affect cardiovascular health. Individual symptoms were not very sensitive, but patients who report multiple thyroid symptoms warrant serum thyroid testing. These results confirm that thyroid dysfunction is common, may often go undetected, and may be associated with ad- verse health outcomes that can be avoided by serum TSH measurement.
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U2 - 10.1001/archinte.160.4.526
DO - 10.1001/archinte.160.4.526
M3 - Article
C2 - 10695693
AN - SCOPUS:0034723754
SN - 0003-9926
VL - 160
SP - 526
EP - 534
JO - Archives of Internal Medicine
JF - Archives of Internal Medicine
IS - 4
ER -