The effect of thyroid hormone therapy on muscle function, strength and mass in older adults with subclinical hypothyroidism-an ancillary study within two randomized placebo controlled trials.

Netzer, Seraina; Chocano-Bedoya, Patricia; Feller, Martin; Janett-Pellegri, Camilla; Wildisen, Lea; Büchi, Annina E; Moutzouri, Elisavet; Rodriguez, Elena Gonzalez; Collet, Tinh-Hai; Poortvliet, Rosalinde K E; Mc Carthy, Vera J C; Aeberli, Daniel; Aujesky, Drahomir; Westendorp, Rudi; Quinn, Terence J; Gussekloo, Jacobijn; Kearney, Patricia M; Mooijaart, Simon; Bauer, Douglas C and Rodondi, Nicolas (2023). The effect of thyroid hormone therapy on muscle function, strength and mass in older adults with subclinical hypothyroidism-an ancillary study within two randomized placebo controlled trials. Age and ageing, 52(1), afag326. Oxford University Press 10.1093/ageing/afac326

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BACKGROUND

loss of skeletal muscle function, strength and mass is common in older adults, with important socioeconomic impacts. Subclinical hypothyroidism is common with increasing age and has been associated with reduced muscle strength. Yet, no randomized placebo-controlled trial (RCT) has investigated whether treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism affects muscle function and mass.

METHODS

this is an ancillary study within two RCTs conducted among adults aged ≥65 years with persistent subclinical hypothyroidism (thyrotropin (TSH) 4.60-19.99 mIU/l, normal free thyroxine). Participants received daily levothyroxine with TSH-guided dose adjustment or placebo and mock titration. Primary outcome was gait speed at final visit (median 18 months). Secondary outcomes were handgrip strength at 1-year follow-up and yearly change in muscle mass.

RESULTS

we included 267 participants from Switzerland and the Netherlands. Mean age was 77.5 years (range 65.1-97.1), 129 (48.3%) were women, and their mean baseline TSH was 6.36 mIU/l (standard deviation [SD] 1.9). At final visit, mean TSH was 3.8 mIU/l (SD 2.3) in the levothyroxine group and 5.1 mIU/l (SD 1.8, P < 0.05) in the placebo group. Compared to placebo, participants in the levothyroxine group had similar gait speed at final visit (adjusted between-group mean difference [MD] 0.01 m/s, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.06 to 0.09), similar handgrip strength at one year (MD -1.22 kg, 95% CI -2.60 to 0.15) and similar yearly change in muscle mass (MD -0.15 m2, 95% CI -0.49 to 0.18).

CONCLUSIONS

in this ancillary analysis of two RCTs, treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism did not affect muscle function, strength and mass in individuals 65 years and older.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Dermatology, Urology, Rheumatology, Nephrology, Osteoporosis (DURN) > Clinic of Rheumatology and Immunology
04 Faculty of Medicine > Medical Education > Institute of General Practice and Primary Care (BIHAM)
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of General Internal Medicine (DAIM) > Clinic of General Internal Medicine
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of General Internal Medicine (DAIM) > Clinic of General Internal Medicine > Centre of Competence for General Internal Medicine

UniBE Contributor:

Netzer, Seraina, Chocano Bedoya, Patricia Orializ, Feller, Martin, Janett-Pellegri, Camilla Maria, Wildisen, Lea Franziska, Büchi, Annina Elisabeth, Moutzouri Beifuss, Elisavet, Aeberli, Daniel, Aujesky, Drahomir, Rodondi, Nicolas

Subjects:

300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1468-2834

Publisher:

Oxford University Press

Funders:

[4] Swiss National Science Foundation

Language:

English

Submitter:

Pubmed Import

Date Deposited:

06 Feb 2023 15:38

Last Modified:

29 Jan 2024 00:25

Publisher DOI:

10.1093/ageing/afac326

PubMed ID:

36721961

Uncontrolled Keywords:

levothyroxine muscle older people sarcopenia subclinical hypothyroidism

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/178291

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/178291

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