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Undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction, thyroid antibodies, and iodine excretion in a Mediterranean population

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Abstract

The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction varies in different populations. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyze the prevalence of undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction and thyroid antibodies and their relationship with urine iodine excretion in a representative sample of 1,124 (55.5% women; mean age: 44.8 ± 15.2 years) non-hospitalized Mediterranean adults, in Catalonia (Spain). Free thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroperoxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies, and urine iodine were measured. Undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction was 5.3% (hypothyroidism 3.8%; 56.66% of these subjects were women). The total (diagnosed + undiagnosed) thyroid dysfunction was 8.9% (71.15% women). Thyroperoxidase antibodies were positive in 2.4% of men and 9.4% of women and thyroglobulin antibodies, in 1.3% of men and 3.8% of women. No differences were observed in urine iodine between groups with thyroid dysfunction and euthyroidism, or between subjects with positive or negative antibodies. In subjects over 60, undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction was 9.8% (hypothyroidism 6.9%, hyperthyroidism 3.3%; 36.36% women) and total thyroid dysfunction 13.61% (53.12% women). Women and men over 60 had similar thyroid dysfunction prevalence. Thus, aggressive case-finding should be recommended in both, over 60.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Anna Sanmartí for her aid during the study development, manuscript revision, and general support; and Christine O’Hara for valuable assistance in language revision.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinology and Nutrition Service, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Crta. Canyet s/n, 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Anna Lucas

  2. Endocrinology and Nutrition Service, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Crta. Canyet s/n, 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    María Teresa Julián

  3. Endocrinology and Nutrition, Complex Hospitable Arquitecto Marcide-Profesor Novoa Santos, Ferrol, A Coruña, Spain

    Ana Cantón

  4. General Direction of Public Health, Health Department, Generalitat of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain

    Conxa Castell

  5. Hormone Laboratory, Clinic Hospital, Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Roser Casamitjana

  6. Blood and Tissue Bank/Immunobiology Laboratory for Research and Diagnostic Applications (LIRAD), Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Eva María Martínez-Cáceres

  7. Hormone Laboratory, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    María Luisa Granada

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  1. Anna Lucas
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Correspondence to Anna Lucas.

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Lucas, A., Julián, M.T., Cantón, A. et al. Undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction, thyroid antibodies, and iodine excretion in a Mediterranean population. Endocr 38, 391–396 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-010-9397-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-010-9397-2

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