Thyroid Function Reference Intervals by Age, Sex, and Race : A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors' conclusion
These findings should help establish more accurate reference intervals for thyroid diseases and facilitate development of a consensus about how to define and manage those diseases.
Study context
- Population
- US NHANES adults aged ≥20 years, supplemented with Chinese routine health checkups from 49 hospitals in 10 provinces, aged ≥18 yearsNHANES n = 8308
- Exposure
- Age-, sex- and race-specific reference intervals vs current reference intervals
- Outcome
- Age-, sex- and race-specific thyroid function reference intervals (2.5th–97.5th percentile) and reclassification into disease categories vs current reference intervals
Methodological detailsnationally representative sample, multicentre, Limitations: cross-sectional data; sample size limitations for subgroups
- Nationally representative sample
- Multicentre
- Limitations: cross-sectional data; sample size limitations for subgroups
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
SCH prevalence with current reference intervals, ages 20–29 vs ≥70 years
2.4% to 5.9%
Persons with SCH reclassified as normal with specific intervals, especially women and White participants
48.5%
Persons with subclinical hyperthyroidism reclassified as normal, especially women, Black and Hispanic participants
31.2%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Chinese cohort
- Many findings from Chinese participants similar to US findings
Original publication
Thyroid Function Reference Intervals by Age, Sex, and Race : A Cross-Sectional Study. Ann Intern Med. Published 6 May 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →