Clinical manifestations of primary hyperthyroidism in the elderly patients at the out-patient clinic of Srinagarind Hospital.

The authors reviewed the outpatient charts diagnosed as hyperthyroidism at Srinagarind Hospital from June 1998-June 2004. The objective was to compare the clinical features of hyperthyroidism in patients older and younger than 60 years old. There were 922 cases enrolled, 84 cases (9.11%) were 60 years old and above. The female: male ratio was 3.4:1 and 4:1 and the mean ages were 64.2 +/- 3.7 and 37.4 +/- 11.2 years old in the elder and younger group, respectively. The common presentations were dyspnea (94.1, 96.5%), weight loss (93.8, 87.9%) and palpitation (83.3, 93.1%) in the elder and younger, respectively. The more significant clinical presentations in the elder group were atrial fibrillation, weakness and anorexia whereas exophthalmos, goiter, heat intolerance and hyperhidrosis were not as frequent. Thus, the classic presentations often lacked in the elder group. Therefore, unexplained AF, weakness and anorexia should not exclude hyperthyroidism even with paucity of typical clinical features.