Age‐specific thyrotropin references decrease over‐diagnosis of hypothyroidism in elderly patients in iodine‐excessive areas
Authors' conclusion
Usage of age-specific TSH reference ranges led to a significantly lower prevalence of OH and SCH in the study population, thus preventing unnecessary over-diagnosis and over-treatment.
Study context
- Population
- Adults in areas of Jiangsu Province with documented chronic exposure to high iodine intake, 2016–2017
- Participants
- 2,559 adults
- Exposure
- Age-specific vs laboratory thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) reference ranges
- Outcome
- Prevalence of overt hypothyroidism (OH) and SCH
Methodological detailsmultistage, stratified sampling
- Multistage, stratified sampling
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Overt hypothyroidism (OH) prevalence, laboratory reference ranges
2.37%
OH prevalence, age-specific reference range
1.78%
Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) prevalence, laboratory reference ranges
29.59%
SCH prevalence, age-specific reference range
2.96%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Urinary iodine concentration (UIC)
- Median UIC, µg/L (IQR 200.7, 469.8 μg/L)
- 307.3
Risk factors for hypothyroidism
- Advanced age, female gender and high UIC were risk factors in univariate and multivariate models
Original publication
Age‐specific thyrotropin references decrease over‐diagnosis of hypothyroidism in elderly patients in iodine‐excessive areas. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). Published 28 September 2021. doi:10.
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