Subclinical hypothyroidism in elderly: to treat or to observe?

• Autor(a) principal: Oliveira,Juliana Kaoru da Costa
• Data de Publicação: 2012
• Outros Autores: Salgado,Mariana Krelling, Pessine,Mirella, Roman,Angelmar Constantino
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Geriatrics, Gerontology and Aging (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://ggaging.com/details/218
• topic: hypothyroidism, elderly, behavioral symptoms, dyslipidemia cognition and mortality

<p>Increasingly healthy people are looking for preventive health care. These includes periodic medical consults for investigation of some grievance or risk factor.To provide scientific basis for such research were created recommendations on what and how often exams should be performed . However, it has become frequent diagnostic checkup exams without notecing such recommendations. As a result, "treatments" are started in asymptomatic patients based only on exams alterations. This especially occurs in the evaluation of thyroid function, when people become labeled as suffering from hypothyroidism, even if it is subclinical. Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined by the presence of elevated levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone with normal levels of Triiodotironine and Tiroxine. Its treatment is controversial, especially in the most prevalent population, women over sixty years, in which the risk-benefit must be carefully evaluated. The causes are diverse, and the main one is Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Among the possible associated risks is included hypertension, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, neuropsychiatric symptoms, changes in mood, cognition, muscle mass, bone density and quality of life. Due to the high prevalence of Subclinical hypothyroidism, studies seek information about the benefits and consequences of treatment, but the benefits are not being fully observed. A literature review with a survey of studies published in indexed journals in databases such as: SCIELO, Dynamed, Cochrane and uptodate. No improvement in survival or reduction of cardiovascular morbidity with the use of levothyroxine. Regarding quality of life and the other symptoms, treatment revealed no significant differences.</p>