Cited by 899Thyroid Disorders and TreatmentsThyroid and Parathyroid SurgeryHormonal and reproductive studies

Thyroid Status, Disability and Cognitive Function, and Survival in Old Age

Gussekloo, Jacobijn·2004·JAMA

Abstract

CONTEXT: Despite the equivocal outcomes of randomized controlled trials, general clinical opinion favors screening and treatment of elderly individuals with subclinical thyroid disorders. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether subclinical thyroid dysfunction should be treated in old age and the long-term impact of thyroid dysfunction on performance and survival in old age. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective, observational, population-based follow-up study within the Leiden 85-Plus Study of 87% of a 2-year birth cohort (1912-1914) in the municipality of Leiden, the Netherlands. A total of 599 participants were followed up from age 85 years through age 89 years (mean [SD] follow-up, 3.7 [1.4] years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Complete thyroid status at baseline; disability in daily life, depressive symptoms, cognitive function, and mortality from age 85 years through 89 years. RESULTS: Plasma levels of thyrotropin and free thyroxine were not associated with disability in daily life, depressive symptoms, and cognitive impairment at baseline or during follow-up. Increasing levels of thyrotropin were associated with a lower mortality rate that remained after adjustments were made for baseline disability and health status. The hazard ratio (HR) for mortality per SD increase of 2.71 mIU/L of thyrotropin was 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-0.94; P = .009). The HR for mortality per SD increase of 0.21 ng/dL (2.67 pmol/L) of free thyroxine increased 1.16-fold (95% CI, 1.04-1.30; P = .009). CONCLUSIONS: In the general population of the oldest old, elderly individuals with abnormally high levels of thyrotropin do not experience adverse effects and may have a prolonged life span. However, evidence for not treating elderly individuals can only come from a well-designed, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

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Crossref · 10.1001/jama.292.21.2591

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  • Epidemiological studies suggest survival advantages both for low thyroid hormones and high TSH concentrations within the normal reference range in older individuals.

    “epidemiological studies suggest survival advantages both for low thyroid hormones and high TSH concentrations within the normal reference range in older individuals.34,132”

    From Hypothyroidism (2024) · cites this paper as [34]

  • The distribution of serum TSH reference interval is right-shifted with age, giving an upper 97.5% confidence interval of around 7.5 mU/L in healthy elderly people.

    “the distribution of serum TSH reference interval is right -shifted with age, 24 -26 giving an upper 97.5% confidence interval of around 7.5 mU/L in healthy elderly people. 2,3”
  • In older individuals the prevalence of hypothyroidism is as high as 7% in individuals aged 85-89 years when age-related reference ranges are not used.

    “and in older individuals the prevalence is as high as 7% in individuals aged 85-89 years 34 when age-related reference ranges are not used.”

    From Hypothyroidism (2024) · cites this paper as [34]

  • Longevity was associated with higher TSH concentrations in the Ashkenazi population and confirmed by two Dutch studies.

    “Longevity was associated with higher TSH concentrations in the Ashkenazi population (19) and confirmed by two Dutch studies (the Leiden 85-Plus Study and the Leiden Longevity Study) (33–35).”
  • Men and women aged 85 years with abnormally high TSH concentrations according to the general reference range for younger people and abnormally low concentrations of fT4 had the lowest mortality rate during the 3.7-year follow-up.

    “Men and women aged 85 years with abnormally high TSH concentrations according to the general reference range for younger people and abnormally low concentrations of fT4 had the lowest mortality rate during the 3.7-yr follow-up (33).”

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Authors
Gussekloo, J.
Affiliations
Leiden University Medical Center (NL)
Corresponding author
Gussekloo, Jacobijn
Venue
JAMA
Published
2004-12-01
Volume
292
Issue
21
Pages
2591
ISSN
  • 0002-9955 (ISSN-L)
  • 0098-7484
OpenAlex
W2087194312
Cited by
899
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 70 · 2021: 50 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 39 · 2018: 52 · 2017: 49 · 2016: 49 · 2015: 55 · 2014: 53 · 2013: 67 · 2012: 56
FWCI
17.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • JAMA (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (publishedVersion)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Thyroid Disorders and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
Keywords
subclinical thyroid dysfunction, older adults, oldest old, thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, mortality, disability, cognitive function, depressive symptoms, thyroid screening, Leiden 85-plus Study
MeSH terms
Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cognition Disorders, Depression, Female, Disabled Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Humans, Hypothyroidism, Male, Mortality, Prospective Studies, Thyroid Diseases, Thyrotropin, Thyroxine, Triiodothyronine, Proportional Hazards Models, Survival Analysis

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