Possible association between subclinical hypothyroidism and age at menopause in Colombian women

Figures & data

Table 1. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of all women and according to the presence or not of subclinical hypothyroidism.

	All n = 643	With subclinical hypothyroidism n = 29 (4.5%)	Without subclinical hypothyroidism n = 614 (95.5%)	p Value*
Age (years)	55.0 ± 5.7	53.7 ± 6.3	55.1 ± 5.6	.21^a
Age at menopause onset (years)	46.8 ± 4.0	44.0 ± 3.7	47.0 ± 3.9	<.001^a
Time since menopause (years)	8.1 ± 6.4	9.7 ± 6.9	8.0 ± 6.3	.21^b
TSH (µIU/mL)	2.0 ± 1.8	7.7 ± 4.0	1.7 ± 1.0	<.001^b
Zulewski Scale Score	2.7 ± 2.0	6.5 ± 2.0	3.0 ± 1.8	<.001^a
Last menstrual episode ≥ 45 years	486 (75.5)	14 (48.2)	472 (76.8)	<.001^c
Last menstrual episode between 40 and 44 years	120 (18.6)	11 (37.9)	109 (17.7)	<.01^c
Last menstrual episode <40 years	37 (5.7)	4 (13.8)	33 (5.3)	.05^c
Last menstrual episode <45 years	157 (24.4)	15 (72.4)	142 (23.1)	<.001^c
Work away from home	294 (45.7)	17 (58.6)	277 (45.1)	.15^c
Abdominal hysterectomy without bilateral oophorectomy	191 (29.7)	8 (27.5)	183 (29.8)	.79^c
Abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy	91 (14.1)	6 (20.6)	85 (13.8)	.30^c
Perception of anxiety	107 (16.6)	4 (13.7)	103 (16.7)	.67^c
Perception of depression	87 (13.5)	4 (13.7)	83 (13.5)	.90^c
Diabetes	69 (10.7)	3 (10.3)	66 (10.7)	.90^c
Dyslipidemias	220 (34.2)	9 (31.0)	211 (34.3)	.71^c
High blood pressure	191 (29.7)	10 (34.4)	181 (29.4)	.56^c
Family history of thyroid disease	114 (17.7)	7 (24.1)	107 (17.4)	.35^c

Data are presented as mean ± standard deviations or frequencies n (%).

* p Values as determined with ^aANOVA, ^bthe Kruskal–Wallis test, or the ^cChi-square – Mantel–Haenszel test.

Table 2. Symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism as evaluated with the Zulewski scale among all women and the presence or not of subclinical hypothyroidism.

	All n = 643	With subclinical hypothyroidism n = 29 (4.5%)	Without subclinical hypothyroidism n = 614 (95.5)	p Value*
Periorbital puffiness	141 (21.9)	11 (37.9)	130 (21.1)	<.05
Constipation	165 (26.6)	12 (41.3)	153 (24.9)	<.05
Weight increase	138 (21.4)	20 (68.9)	118 (19.2)	<.001
Cold skin	78 (12.1)	18 (62.0)	60 (9.8)	<.001
Paresthesia	323 (50.2)	20 (68.9)	303 (49.3)	<.05
Hoarseness	132 (20.5)	17 (58.6)	125 (20.3)	<.001
Dry skin	262 (40.7)	18 (62.0)	244 (39.7)	<.05
Diminished sweating	123 (19.1)	10 (34.4)	113 (18.4)	<.05
Impairment of hearing	82 (12.7)	11 (37.9)	71 (11.5)	<.001
Coarse skin	67 (10.4)	14 (48.2)	53 (8.6)	<.001
Slow movements	146 (22.7)	20 (68.9)	126 (20.5)	<.001
Delayed ankle reflex	68 (10.6)	12 (41.3)	56 (9.1)	<.001
Possible hypothyroid status	85 (13.2)	19 (65.5)	66 (10.7)	<.001

Data are presented as frequencies n (%); *p values as determined with the Chi-square – Mantel–Haenszel test.

Table 3. Association between subclinical hypothyroidism and type of menopause.

Type of menopause	Age	Age at menopause	Time in postmenopause	Familial history of thyroid disease	Abdominal hysterectomy without bilateral oophorectomy	Abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy	Subclinical hypothyroidism	Logistic regression
								Crude	Adjusted*
								Odds ratio [95% confidence interval]
Last menstrual episode ≥ 45 (n = 486)	55.4 ± 5.1	48.6 ± 2.4	6.8 ± 5.1	77 (15.8)	120 (24.6)	58 (11.9)	14 (2.9)	1
Last menstrual episode between 40 and 44 (n = 120)	53.1 ± 6.5	42.7 ± 1.3	10.3 ± 6.3	27 (22.5)	49 (40.8)	24 (20.0)	11 (9.1)	3.40 [1.50–7.69]	3.37 [1.40–8.10]
Last menstrual episode < 40 (n = 37)	55.6 ± 8.2	37.2 ± 3.1	18.3 ± 9.5	10 (27.0)	22 (59.4)	9 (24.3)	4 (10.8)	4.08 [1.27–13.11]	4.31 [1.24–14.97]
Last menstrual episode < 45 (n = 157)	53.7 ± 7.0	41.4 ± 3.0	12.2 ± 7.9	37 (23.5)	71 (45.2)	33 (21.0)	15 (9.5)	3.56 [1.68–7.56]	3.57 [1.57–8.10]

Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation or frequencies, n (%).

*Covariates: Age, familial history of thyroid disease, abdominal hysterectomy without bilateral oophorectomy, abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy, perception of anxiety, perception of depression, personal history of diabetes, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemias.

Data availability statement

All required information regarding the protocol of the study and collected data will be made available upon a reasonable request to the researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal. Only the analysis required to achieve the aims in the approved proposal will be permitted. Proposals should be directed to [email protected]