For Immediate Release
Impact of Age- and Sex-Based Differences on Diagnosis of Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction
Contact: Kathryn Ryan
914-740-2250
kryan@liebertpub.com
New Rochelle, NY, March 22, 2023—The results of a new study led to the conclusion that age- and sex-specific reference ranges of thyroid hormone measurements should be used to avoid over- and under-diagnosis of subclinical thyroid dysfunction. The study is published in the peer-reviewed journal Thyroid®, the official journal of the American Thyroid Association® (ATA®). Click here to read the article now.
Masanobu Yamada, MD, PhD, from Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, in Japan, and coauthors, determined the age- and sex-based differences in serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) in individuals with normal thyroid function. They estimated sex-specific reference ranges for TSH and FT4 according to age groups.
The investigators reported that when measuring TSH levels, “approximately 60% of women diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism using manufacturer-recommended reference ranges had normal results when age- and sex-specific reference rages were applied, demonstrating the high percentage of overdiagnosis, especially in those aged >60 years. Conversely, some middle-aged individuals with normal thyroid function were reassessed and classified as having subclinical hyperthyroidism by age- and sex-specific reference ranges.”
About the Journal
Thyroid®, the official journal of the American Thyroid Association® (ATA®) is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly online with open access options and in print. Led by Editor-in-Chief Anna M. Sawka, MD, PhD, University of Toronto, the Journal publishes original articles and timely reviews that reflect the rapidly advancing changes in our understanding of thyroid physiology and pathology, from the molecular biology of the cell to clinical management of thyroid disorders. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Thyroid website. The complete Thyroid Journal Program includes the highly valued abstract and commentary publication Clinical Thyroidology®, led by Editor-in-Chief Angela Leung, MD and published monthly, and the groundbreaking videojournal companion VideoEndocrinology, led by Editor Catherine F. Sinclair, MD, FRACS. Complete tables of content and sample issues may be viewed on the Thyroid website.
About the American Thyroid Association®
The American Thyroid Association® (ATA) is dedicated to transforming thyroid care through clinical excellence, education, scientific discovery and advocacy in a collaborative and diverse community. ATA® is an international professional medical society with over 1,800 members from 43 countries around the world. The ATA® promotes thyroid awareness and information through Clinical Thyroidology® for the Public, a resource that summarizes research for patients and families, and extensive, authoritative resources on thyroid disease and thyroid cancer in both English and Spanish. The ATA® website serves as a bonafide clinical resource for patients and the public who look for reliable thyroid-related information.
About the Publisher
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is a global media company dedicated to creating, curating, and delivering impactful peer-reviewed research and authoritative content services to advance the fields of biotechnology and the life sciences, specialized clinical medicine, and public health and policy. For complete information, please visit the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. website.