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Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and its impact on cognition in older mexican adults: (SADEM study)

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Abstract

Introduction

Subclinical thyroid dysfunction is a possible risk factor for cognitive impairment in old age, but results are inconsistent. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among older community-dwelling adults and to see whether thyroid function impacts the cognitive status of the elderly.

Methods

We included 1750 participants from the Study on Aging and Dementia in Mexico (SADEM). All subjects were evaluated clinically via specific interviews. TSH levels were analyzed by chemiluminescent immunometry assay. We classified participants into five thyroid state groups: (1) normal TSH levels (0.40–4.0 IU/L) were considered euthyroid; (2) Overt hyperthyroidism: TSH <0.3 IU/l and FT4 >23 pmol/l; (3) Overt hypothyroidism: TSH >4.8 IU/l, FT4 <13 pmol/l; (4) Subclinical hyperthyroidism: TSH <0.3 IU/l, FT4: 13–23 pmol/l; (5) Subclinical hypothyroidism: TSH >4.8 IU/l, FT4: 13–23 pmol/l.

Results

The overall estimated prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Mexican population was 23.7% (95% CI, 22.66–26.77). Of these, 15.4% older adults were classified as subclinical hypothyroidism, 7.2% overt hypothyroidism, 0.5% subclinical hyperthyroidism, and 0.6% overt hyperthyroidism. The association of thyroid dysfunction with cognitive impairment was most evident in overt hypothyroidism OR = 1.261 (1.185–1.343).

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated a high prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Mexican elderly people living in the community. A relationship between cognitive impairment and the presence of hypothyroidism was also shown, and to a lesser degree in hyperthyroidism.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from SEP-CONACYT CB-2012-01-183700 (México). The original SADEM STUDY was supported by SSA/IMSS/ISSSTE-CONACYT (México) Salud-2007-01-69842 and the Fund for the Promotion of Health Research, Mexican Institute of Social Security, FIS/IMSS/PROT/G09/772.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unidad de Investigación en Epidemiología Clínica, Hospital General Regional No 1 Carlos McGregor Sánchez Navarro, Gabriel Mancera 222, Colonia Del Valle, Delegación, Benito Juárez, 03100, México, DF, Mexico

    T. Juárez-Cedillo, E. Juárez-Cedillo & J. Escobedo-de-la-peña

  2. High Studies (FES) Zaragoza, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

    T. Juárez-Cedillo & C. Gonzalez-Melendez Roberto

  3. Endocrine Research Unit, National Medical Center, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Mexico City, Mexico

    L. Basurto-Acevedo & S. Vega-García

  4. Gerontology Research Unit. Faculty of High Studies (FES) Zaragoza, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

    A. Sánchez-Rodríguez Martha & R. Retana-Ugalde

Authors
  1. T. Juárez-Cedillo
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  2. L. Basurto-Acevedo
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  3. S. Vega-García
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  4. A. Sánchez-Rodríguez Martha
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  5. R. Retana-Ugalde
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  6. E. Juárez-Cedillo
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  7. C. Gonzalez-Melendez Roberto
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  8. J. Escobedo-de-la-peña
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Juárez-Cedillo.

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Conflict of interest

All the authors have no conflict of interest to declare. No competing financial interests exist. The funders had no role in analysis and interpretation of the data or in writing and publishing of the manuscript. There are no patents, and products in development to declare.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Juárez-Cedillo, T., Basurto-Acevedo, L., Vega-García, S. et al. Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and its impact on cognition in older mexican adults: (SADEM study). J Endocrinol Invest 40, 945–952 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-017-0654-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-017-0654-6

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