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Thyroid Disorders in Older Adults

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Geriatric Medicine

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Abstract

Thyroid disorders are common in older adults and may range from subclinical disease to overt thyroid under-activity or over-activity. Subclinical disease is common and requires regular follow-up and an evidence-based approach to guide subsequent management, since clinical consequences may be significant. Practitioners should be diligent about ascertaining the specific diagnosis in frail older adults on thyroid supplementation or suppression treatment. Abnormal thyroid function tests should be interpreted in the context of the clinical scenario as well as current medication regimen. A high index of suspicion should be maintained for the presence of secondary thyroid disease due to pituitary dysfunction. The finding of nodular thyroid disease requires systematic measurement of thyroid function and appropriate imaging studies and biopsy if indicated and consistent with the patient’s care goals.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA

    Elizabeth Hames

  2. Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA

    Naushira Pandya

Authors
  1. Naushira Pandya
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  2. Elizabeth Hames
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Naushira Pandya .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. California Association of Long Term Care Medicine, Newbury Park, CA, USA

    Michael R. Wasserman

  2. Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Debra Bakerjian

  3. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aurora, CO, USA

    Sunny Linnebur

  4. Division of Geriatrics, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Sharon Brangman

  5. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Matteo Cesari

  6. Section of Geriatric Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai, Beverly Hills, CA, USA

    Sonja Rosen

Section Editor information

  1. California Association of Long Term Care Medicine, Newbury Park, CA, USA

    Michael R. Wasserman M.D., CMD

  2. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Matteo Cesari MD, PhD

  3. Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

    Matteo Cesari MD, PhD

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Pandya, N., Hames, E. (2024). Thyroid Disorders in Older Adults. In: Wasserman, M.R., Bakerjian, D., Linnebur, S., Brangman, S., Cesari, M., Rosen, S. (eds) Geriatric Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74720-6_39

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74720-6_39

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-74720-6

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