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Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hypothyroidism: Findings from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Paul D. Krueger ,
Parminder Raina ,
E. Anne Braun ,
Christopher Patterson  and
Larry W. Chambers
Paul D. Krueger
Affiliation:
Hamilton-Wentworth Division of Social and Public Health Services St. Joseph's Health Care System Research Network McMaster University
Parminder Raina
Affiliation:
McMaster University
E. Anne Braun
Affiliation:
McMaster University St Peter's Hospital St Joseph's Hospital
Christopher Patterson
Affiliation:
McMaster University
Larry W. Chambers
Affiliation:
Hamilton-Wentworth Division of Social and Public Health Services McMaster University
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Abstract

The objective of this research is to determine the prevalence and risk factors for primary hypothyroidism in a sample of Canadian seniors. The Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) was a prevalence survey of seniors living at home and in long-term care facilities (n = 10,263). Detailed clinical examinations were conducted on 2,914 seniors, of which 1,415 had serum TSH levels measured.The ten Canadian Provinces were grouped into five geographic regions (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Prairies and British Columbia). Only seniors who underwent detailed clinical examinations (n = 2,914) are included. Hypothyroidism was defined as seniors taking thyroid hormone replacement or seniors having a serum TSH level greater than 10 mU/L. An estimated 9.6 per cent of seniors had hypothyroidism, 5.1 per cent were inadequately treated and 2.1 per cent were untreated. Age, gender, cultural background, geographic region and place of residence were potential risk factors for hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism was found to be a prevalent problem in this population.

Résumé

Cette recherche visait à déterminer la prévalence et les facteurs de risque de l'hypothyroïdie primaire, dans un échantillonnage d'aîné(e)s canadien(ne)s. L'Étude sur la santé et le vieillissement au Canada (ESVC) portait sur les aîné(e)s vivant à la maison et dans des établissements de soins de longue durée (n = 10,263). On a effectué un examen clinique de 2 014 aîné(e)s et on a mesuré les niveaux de TRH de 1415 d'entre eux. On a divisé les dix provinces canadiennes en cinq régions géographiques (Atlantique, Québec, Ontario, Prairies et Colombie-Britannique). On a retenu seulement ceux qui avaient subi un examen clinique (n = 2 914). Les aîné(e)s souffrant d'hypothyroïdie étaient ceux qui prenaient des hormone substitutives ou les aîné(e)s dont le degré de TRH était supérieur à 10 mU/L. On a estimé à 9,6 pour cent le nombre d'aîné(e)s souffrant d'hypothyroïdie; 5,1 pour cent n'étaient pas soignés de façon appropriée et 2,1 pour cent n'étaient pas du tout soignés. L'âge, le sexe, les antécédents culturels, l'origine géographique et le lieu de résidence constituaient des facteurs de risque de l'hypothyroïdie. On a conclu que l'hypothyroïdie est un problèms inherent à ce groupe.

Keywords

HypothyroidismSeniorsPrevalenceRisk FactorsSurveyTSHThyroid Hormone ReplacementHypothyroïdieaîné(e)sprévalencefacteurs de risqueenquêteTRHhormone substitutives
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , Printemps/Spring 2001 , pp. 127 - 135
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2001

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