This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Hypothyroidism before age 60 leads to workplace disability, lower income increases
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Individuals diagnosed with hypothyroidism before age 60 years have an 89% increased risk of receiving disability pension compared with euthyroid controls, according to recent findings.
In the observational, register-based cohort study, researchers compiled data on 1,725 singleton hypothyroid patients identified through record linkage of different Danish health registers. Each single case was matched with four euthyroid controls. The researchers also studied 277 pairs of same gender twins, one of whom had hypothyroidism and the other who did not. The mean follow-up was 5 years.
The researchers used a difference in difference model to evaluate changes in income in cases and controls; this was achieved by assessing income 2 years before the diagnosis of hypothyroidism and 2 years after the diagnosis. The Cox regression model was utilized to determine the relationship between hypothyroidism and disability pension before age 60 years. The researchers adjusted all analyses for the following: gender, age at diagnosis, level of education and comorbidity history.
The researchers found that cases were significantly more likely to receive disability pension compared with controls (HR=2.24; 95% CI, 1.73-2.89). This association persisted after adjustment for comorbidity history and educational level (HR=1.89; 95% CI, 1.42-2.51).
The labor market income analysis revealed that in comparing income 2 years before hypothyroid diagnosis to 2 years after diagnosis, the controls had a greater increase in income compared with cases (P<.001).
According to the researchers, these findings warrant additional studies in different socioeconomic settings and different subtypes of hypothyroidism.
“Importantly, this study should be repeated in other populations that vary in labor market regulations and socioeconomic conditions,” the researchers wrote. “The current model of analysis should be extended to subtypes of hypothyroidism, as well as other thyroid phenotypes, eg, hyperthyroidism, which are also associated with similar magnitudes of increased morbidity and mortality.”
Disclosure: Two researchers report financial ties with The School of Endocrinology, University of Southern Denmark in Odense and the Danish Thyroid Patient Organization. Another researcher reports financial ties with the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts