Subclinical thyroid dysfunction and functional capacity among elderly

Virgini, Vanessa Sophie; Wijsman, Liselotte W; Rodondi, Nicolas; Bauer, Douglas C; Kearney, Patricia M; Gussekloo, Jacobijn; den Elzen, Wendy P J; Jukema, J Wouter; Westendorp, Rudi G J; Ford, Ian; Stott, David J; Mooijaart, Simon P (2014). Subclinical thyroid dysfunction and functional capacity among elderly. Thyroid, 24(2), pp. 208-214. Mary Ann Liebert 10.1089/thy.2013.0071

Preview

Text thy.2013.pdf - Published Version Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. This is a copy of an article published in the THYROID © 2014 copyright Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.; THYROID is available online at: http://online.liebertpub.com. Download (212kB) | Preview

Background: Subclinical thyroid dysfunction is common among older people and has been associated with decreased functional capacity but with conflicting data. The aim of this study was to assess the association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and functional capacity in an elderly population. Methods: We included 5182 participants with a mean age of 75.2 years from the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER). Self-reported functional capacity was assessed using the Barthel Index (BI) and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scores at baseline and during follow-up. Participants with subclinical hyperthyroidism (n=65) and subclinical hypothyroidism (n=173) were compared to euthyroid participants (n=4944). The association between persistent subclinical thyroid dysfunction and functional capacity and decline was also investigated. Results: At baseline, compared to euthyroid participants (BI 19.73±SE 0.06; IADL 13.52±0.02), there was no difference in functional capacity for participants with subclinical hyperthyroidism (BI 19.60±0.09; IADL 13.51±0.12, p>0.05) or subclinical hypothyroidism (BI 19.82±0.06; IADL 13.55±0.08, p>0.05). Over a mean 3.2-year follow-up period, there was no association between thyroid function and annual decline of either BI or IADL (p>0.05). No association was found between persistent subclinical thyroid dysfunction and functional capacity at baseline or during follow-up (p>0.05). Results were similar after excluding participants with a maximum BI and/or IADL score at baseline. Conclusion: Among well-functioning community-dwelling elderly, we found no evidence that subclinical thyroid dysfunction contributes to decreased functional capacity.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

225 since deposited on 06 Oct 2014
8 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item