Hyperthyroidism in Elderly Women Registered and Detected by Screening in a Primary Health Care District

Abstract

A laboratory screening for thyroid disease was performed among women older than 60 years in a primary health care district in a goiter region. The screening was combined with a questionnaire regarding previously treated thyroid disorder. A total of 1442 women i.e., 97.3% of the population studied were investigated. Through the laboratory screening we found 28 women (1.9%) with hyperthyroidism and they were successfully treated. Through the questionnaire 50 women (3.4%) were identified with previously treated hyperthyroidism—of these 42 were diagnosed after the age of 60. We suggest that physicians should maintain increased awareness to order thyroid laboratory tests (e.g. free T4 index, free T3 index) in women older than 60 years of age because atypical symtoms and signs are often difficult to separate from the age process per se.

Key Words:

• Elderly women
• hyperthyroidism
• screening