Epidemiological study on thyroid dysfunction in an elderly cohort from a petrochemical corporation in Ningbo / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To estimate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among the retired staffs of a petrochemical corporation in Ningbo. Methods The 1709 retired staffs at 60 years of age and over were enrolled in the census. Their medical history were investigated by questionnaires,and blood samples were collected for thyroid function detection. Results In this elderly cohort, the morbidity of diagnosed thyroid diseases was 3.8% (65/1709), with 6.7% (39/584) in females and 2. 3% (26/ 1125) in males. The morbidity of unrecognized thyroid dysfunctions was 6.7% (110/1644), with 9.7% (53/545) in females and 5.2% (57/1099) in males. The prevalence of total thyroid dysfunctions was 10. 2%(175/1709), with 15.8% (92/584) in females and 7.4% (83/1125) in males. Subclinical hypothyroidism accounted for 87. 3% of unrecognized thyroid dysfunctions. Conclusions The prevalence of thyroid dysfunctions is over 10. 2% in the elderly retired staffs of the petrochemical corporation in Ningbo. Subclinical hypothyroidism is the most popular form in all kinds of unrecognized thyroid functional disorders, and its prevalence is higher in females than in males.