OBJECTIVES: To determine if aging modifies the clinical presentation of hyperthyroidism and the signs of thyrotoxicosis in older people. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: A French university hospital. SUBJECTS: Eighty-four new patients with overt hyperthyroidism confirmed chemically between January 1992 and January 1993. Controls were 68 older euthyroid patients matched to the older hyperthyroid patients. MEASUREMENTS: Comparison of 19 classical signs of hyperthyroidism between 34 older patients (> or = 70 years; mean age 80.2) and 50 younger patients (< or = 50 years; mean age 37.4). Older patients were also compared with controls (mean age 81.3). RESULTS: Three signs were found in more than 50% of older patients: tachycardia, fatigue, and weight loss. Seven signs were found significantly less frequently in older patients (P < .001): hyperactive reflexes, increased sweating, heat intolerance, tremor, nervousness, polydipsia, and increased appetite. Only anorexia (32% vs 4%) and atrial fibrillation (35% vs 2%) were more found frequently in older people (P < .001). A goiter was present in 94% of the younger and in 50% of the older patients (P < .001). The mean number of clinical signs found in the older subjects was significantly smaller than the number found in younger patients (6 vs 10.8; P < .001). Comparison with older controls showed three signs that were highly associated with thyrotoxicosis in older people: apathy (Odd ratio (OR): 14.8), tachycardia (OR: 11.2), and weight loss (OR: 8.7). CONCLUSION: This study confirms the paucity of clinical signs of hyperthyroidism in older adults. These results suggest the necessity of routine screening for thyroid disease in this age group.
OBJECTIVES: To determine if aging modifies the clinical presentation of hyperthyroidism and the signs of thyrotoxicosis in older people. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: A French university hospital. SUBJECTS: Eighty-four new patients with overt hyperthyroidism confirmed chemically between January 1992 and January 1993. Controls were 68 older euthyroid patients matched to the older hyperthyroidpatients. MEASUREMENTS: Comparison of 19 classical signs of hyperthyroidism between 34 older patients (> or = 70 years; mean age 80.2) and 50 younger patients (< or = 50 years; mean age 37.4). Older patients were also compared with controls (mean age 81.3). RESULTS: Three signs were found in more than 50% of older patients: tachycardia, fatigue, and weight loss. Seven signs were found significantly less frequently in older patients (P < .001): hyperactive reflexes, increased sweating, heat intolerance, tremor, nervousness, polydipsia, and increased appetite. Only anorexia (32% vs 4%) and atrial fibrillation (35% vs 2%) were more found frequently in older people (P < .001). A goiter was present in 94% of the younger and in 50% of the older patients (P < .001). The mean number of clinical signs found in the older subjects was significantly smaller than the number found in younger patients (6 vs 10.8; P < .001). Comparison with older controls showed three signs that were highly associated with thyrotoxicosis in older people: apathy (Odd ratio (OR): 14.8), tachycardia (OR: 11.2), and weight loss (OR: 8.7). CONCLUSION: This study confirms the paucity of clinical signs of hyperthyroidism in older adults. These results suggest the necessity of routine screening for thyroid disease in this age group.
Authors: Neil B Alexander; George E Taffet; Frances McFarland Horne; Basil A Eldadah; Luigi Ferrucci; Susan Nayfield; Stephanie Studenski Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2010-05 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Richard Birtwhistle; Kate Morissette; James A Dickinson; Donna L Reynolds; Marc T Avey; Francesca Reyes Domingo; Rachel Rodin; Brett D Thombs Journal: CMAJ Date: 2019-11-18 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Vanessa S Virgini; Nicolas Rodondi; Peggy M Cawthon; Stephanie Litwack Harrison; Andrew R Hoffman; Eric S Orwoll; Kristine E Ensrud; Douglas C Bauer Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2015-10-23 Impact factor: 5.958