RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THYROID FUNCTION TESTS AND BODY MASS INDEX IN THE ELDERLY

Abstract

Thyroid gland is an endocrine gland which controls the function of many body systems and metabolism through the secretion of its hormones T3 and T4.

Thyroid dysfunction is relatively common in elder patients but clinical presentation varies. It may be obvious from classic presenting symptoms or it may be asymptomatic and discovered accidentally (wallace and Hofmann, 1998).

Many older patients have abnormal TSH levels without other alterations in the level of serum thyroid hormones, conditions termed subclinical hypothyroidism (isolated elevation of TSH level) and subclinical hyperthyroidism (isolated suppression of TSH level); subclinical hyperthyroidism is less common (Samuels, 1998).

The prevalence of subclinical hyperthyroidism is higher according to a study made upon the elderly of Taiwan (Chuang et al, 1998).

Body mass index (BMI) is defined as the body weight divided by the height square.

There is an age related decrease in the body height, and in case of women, also there is reduced body weight and lean body mass with old age (Suominen, 1997).

The aim of this work is to study the correlation between BMI and thyroid function tests in elderly.