Changes in Thyroid Function and Autoimmunity in Older Individuals: Longitudinal Analysis of the Whickham Cohort
Authors' conclusion
Thyroid function demonstrates subtle but significant changes with age. Utilizing standard reference ranges tends to increase the diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism in older euthyroid individuals. Our data suggest that adopting age-appropriate TSH reference ranges may reduce the risk of diagnosing and (potentially unnecessarily) treating subclinical hypothyroidism.
Study context
- Population
- Survivors of the Whickham cohort without known thyroid disease or thyroid-affecting medications; mean age 77.0 (±6.6) years, 56% female
- Participants
- 204 survivors
- Exposure
- Follow-up vs baseline
- Outcome
- Change in thyroid function and autoimmunity
- Follow-up
- Median 7.8 (IQR 7.3-8.2) years
Methodological detailslongitudinal, 2 assessments (2008–2012 and 2016–2019), same assay under similar conditions
- Longitudinal
- 2 assessments (2008–2012 and 2016–2019)
- Same assay under similar conditions
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Serum TSH increase
0.29 mU/L
12.4%
Free T3 (FT3) reduction
0.1 pmol/L
−2.1%
Thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) reduction
0.6 U/L
−11.2%
Calculated upper limit of TSH, baseline to follow-up
4.74 mU/L to 6.28 mU/L
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Prevalence of SCH, standard laboratory reference ranges
Prevalence of SCH, visit-specific TSH reference range
Original publication
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