Cited by 59Thyroid Disorders and TreatmentsThyroid and Parathyroid SurgeryThyroid Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Gender differences in symptoms of hypothyroidism: a population‐based D an T hyr study

Carlé, Allan, Bülow Pedersen, Inge, Knudsen, Nils, Perrild, Hans, Ovesen, Lars, Laurberg, Peter·2015·Clinical Endocrinology

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We examined the gender-specific symptom prevalences in hypothyroidism and in healthy controls and explored the extent to which symptoms indicative of thyroid status may be different in women and men. DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients newly diagnosed with overt autoimmune hypothyroidism (n = 140) and controls free of thyroid disease (n = 560) recruited from the same population participated in a population-based study of The Danish Investigation of Iodine Intake and Thyroid Diseases (DanThyr). Participants underwent a comprehensive programme including blood tests and completion of questionnaires. The gender-specific distribution of 13 hypothyroidism-associated symptoms and a simple combined score (0-13) was explored in conditional uni- and multivariate models taking into account a broad spectrum of possible confounders. Diagnostic odds ratios (DORs) were calculated as measures for the association between participant status (case vs control) and presence of symptoms (yes vs no). RESULTS: In overt autoimmune hypothyroidism, 94·9% of women and 91·3% of men (P = 0·62) reported at least one of the hypothyroidism-associated symptoms, with tiredness as the most common symptom followed by dry skin and shortness of breath. In contrast, women free of thyroid disease self-reported at least one hypothyroidism-associated symptom considerably more often than men (73·7% vs 51·1%, P < 0·001). DORs (±SEM) for 0-1/2-3/4-13 symptoms were 0·07 (0·04-0·10)/2·15 (1·57-2·94)/7·99 (6·15-10·4) in men and 0·21 (0·16-0·28)/0·62 (0·58-0·66)/1·99 (1·90-2·09) in women. CONCLUSION: The presence of symptoms is more indicative for overt autoimmune hypothyroidism in men than in women, and presumably persistent symptoms after therapy of hypothyroidism will be more common in women.

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Crossref · 10.1111/cen.12787

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37 of 37 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include cold intolerance (35%-65%).

    “Common symptoms include fatigue (74%-86%), weight gain (24%59%), cold intolerance (35%-65%), bradycardia (12%-19%), constipation(33%-41%),andcognitiveimpairment(45%-48%),includingmemorylossanddifficultyconcentrating. 41,42”

    From Hypothyroidism: A Review (2025) · cites this paper as [42]

  • Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include cognitive impairment (45%-48%), including memory loss and difficulty concentrating.

    “Common symptoms include fatigue (74%-86%), weight gain (24%59%), cold intolerance (35%-65%), bradycardia (12%-19%), constipation(33%-41%),andcognitiveimpairment(45%-48%),includingmemorylossanddifficultyconcentrating. 41,42”

    From Hypothyroidism: A Review (2025) · cites this paper as [42]

  • Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue (74%-86%).

    “Common symptoms include fatigue (74%-86%), weight gain (24%59%), cold intolerance (35%-65%), bradycardia (12%-19%), constipation(33%-41%),andcognitiveimpairment(45%-48%),includingmemorylossanddifficultyconcentrating. 41,42”

    From Hypothyroidism: A Review (2025) · cites this paper as [42]

  • Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include constipation (33%-41%).

    “Common symptoms include fatigue (74%-86%), weight gain (24%59%), cold intolerance (35%-65%), bradycardia (12%-19%), constipation(33%-41%),andcognitiveimpairment(45%-48%),includingmemorylossanddifficultyconcentrating. 41,42”

    From Hypothyroidism: A Review (2025) · cites this paper as [42]

  • Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include bradycardia (12%-19%).

    “Common symptoms include fatigue (74%-86%), weight gain (24%59%), cold intolerance (35%-65%), bradycardia (12%-19%), constipation(33%-41%),andcognitiveimpairment(45%-48%),includingmemorylossanddifficultyconcentrating. 41,42”

    From Hypothyroidism: A Review (2025) · cites this paper as [42]

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Authors
Carlé, A., Bülow Pedersen, I., Knudsen, N., Perrild, H., Ovesen, L., & Laurberg, P.
Affiliations
  • Aalborg University Hospital (DK)
  • Department of Endocrinology Aalborg University Hospital Aalborg Denmark
  • Bispebjerg Hospital (DK)
  • Slagelse Hospital (DK)
Corresponding author
Carlé, Allan
Venue
Clinical Endocrinology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2015-05-06
Volume
83
Issue
5
Pages
717-725
ISSN
  • 0300-0664 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2265
OpenAlex
W2123012919
Cited by
59
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5
FWCI
4.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Clinical Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
  • VBN Forskningsportal (Aalborg Universitet) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Det Frie Forskningsråd
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 › Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Keywords
hypothyroidism, autoimmune hypothyroidism, gender differences, symptom prevalence, fatigue, dry skin, dyspnea, thyroid disease diagnosis, diagnostic odds ratio
MeSH terms
Denmark, Female, Humans, Hypothyroidism, Male, Middle Aged, Sex Characteristics, Multivariate Analysis, Case-Control Studies

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