High prevalence of subclinical thyroidal disease among individuals attended in occupational health examinations

Citation
C. Fardella et al., High prevalence of subclinical thyroidal disease among individuals attended in occupational health examinations, REV MED CHI, 129(2), 2001, pp. 155-160
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
General & Internal Medicine
Journal title
REVISTA MEDICA DE CHILE
ISSN journal
00349887 → ACNP
Volume
129
Issue
2
Year of publication
2001
Pages
155 - 160
Database
ISI
SICI code
0034-9887(200102)129:2<155:HPOSTD>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
Background: There is no information about the prevalence of thyroidal disea ses in the general Chilean population. Aim: To assess the prevalence of thy roidal diseases in individuals attended in occupational health examinations . Subjects and methods: Four hundred seventy two individuals were examined between 1998 and 1999. In all, serum levels of thyroid hormones, TSH and an ti thyroidal antibodies (anti microsomal, anti thyroid peroxidase and anti thyroglobulin) were measured. Results: Forty four subjects were excluded fr om the study due to an incomplete medical record and 18 due to a personal h istory of thyroidal disease. Abnormal serum levels of thyroid hormones or T SH were detected in 28 subjects (6.8%). Four (1%) had hypothyroidism, 23 a subclinical hypothyroidism (5.6%) and one (0.2%) had hyperthyroidism. In 87 subjects (21.2%) at least one of the antibodies was positive. Positive ant i thyroid antibodies were found in 14 of 28 subjects (50%) with abnormal th yroid hormone levels, compared with 73 of 382 subjects (19.1%) with normal thyroid hormone levels. Thyroid dysfunction was twice as frequent in women than in men. Conclusions: In this sample, a 6.8% prevalence of abnormal thy roid function tests was detected.