Subclinical thyroid disease increased mortality risk in older adults

SAN DIEGO — Risk for mortality in older adults increased with diagnoses of subclinical hypothyroidism or subclinical hyperthyroidism, according to study findings presented here.

“The association between subclinical hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism and mortality in the elderly is poorly defined,” the researchers wrote. “In this study this association was evaluated and the thyroid stimulating hormone values associated with excess mortality in the elderly were defined.”

Alon Grossman, MD, MHA, of Rabin Medical Center in Israel, and colleagues evaluated information on 17,440 adults older than 65 years with subclinical thyroid disease from a database of a large health care organization to determine the effect of thyroid disease on long-term mortality. Participants were divided into three groups including normal (n = 14,496), subclinical hypothyroidism (n = 1,956) and subclinical hyperthyroidism (n = 538).

Subclinical hypothyroidism (HR = 1.75; 95% CI, 1.63-1.88) and subclinical hyperthyroidism (HR = 2.33; 95% CI, 2.08-2.63) were both significantly associated with increased risk for mortality. The increased risk persisted followed multivariate analysis for age, gender, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, smoking, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, cerebrovascular disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes and hypertension for both subclinical hypothyroidism (HR = 1.68; 95% CI, 1.56-1.8) and subclinical hyperthyroidism (HR = 1.93; 95% CI, 1.7-2.17).

The highest mortality in those with subclinical hypothyroidism was found with thyroid stimulating hormone levels of more than 6/35 mIU/L whereas no threshold for increased risk was found for subclinical hyperthyroidism. – by Amber Cox

Reference:

Grossman A, et al. OR11-5. Presented at: The Endocrine Society Annual Meeting; March 5-8, 2015; San Diego.

Disclosure: Grossman reports no relevant financial disclosures.