Thyroid physiology changes with age. Gland anatomy, hormone synthesis, metabolism, etc. Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction is high in elderly and their presentations are also different. Also many of the symptoms of thyroid disease especially hypothyroidism can easily be confused with symptoms. The incidenceof hypothyroidism varies from 1% to 17% with women being affected more than men, and subclinical hypothyroidism is being more common than overt. Hyperthyroidism is also quiet common incidence is being 0.5% to 3% of all elderly patients. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are non–specific and difficult to differentiate from age related symptoms like alopecia, memory disturbances, cognitive decline, dry skin, constipation etc. Hence the physician needs high index of suspicion to diagnose thyroid illnesses in elderly. Treatment part depends on the symptomatology and TSH levels and cardiovascular risk of the patient.

AIM

Among geriatric patients to assess the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and correlate with symptoms and to explore the possibility of recommending routine screening for serum TSH.

METHODOLOGY

This is a cross sectional study conducted over a period of one year in Coimbatore medical college hospital from August 2017 to July 2018. Study population includes 100 geriatric age group individuals attending geriatric outpatient department in Coimbatore medical college hospital. We measured serum TSH, serum T4, serum T3 levels for all the study participants by immunochemiluminescence method.

RESULTS

In total study population 100 individuals, 64 were euthyroid biochemically and 36 were showing thyroid dysfunction. Among the participants with hypothyroidism total of 29; 18 (62.1%) were asymptomatic whereas symptomatic patients were only 11 (37.9%). The subjects with hyperthyroidism those who had not showed any symptoms were 5 (71.4%) whereas symptomatic were 2 (28.6%).

CONCLUSION:

In our study we have found that the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in elderly population 36 out of 100 patients which has a considerable impact on their morbidity and mortality of the patients. Hence we recommend screening with serum TSH is mandatory in all the elderly patients whether they are symptomatic or not.