Thyroid Hormone Therapy for Older Adults with Subclinical Hypothyroidism

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial aimed to determine whether levothyroxine provided clinical benefits in older persons with subclinical hypothyroidism. No apparent benefits were observed. Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined as an elevated serum thyrotropin level and a serum free thyroxine level within the reference range. 1 Between 8% and 18% of adults 65 years of age or older have these biochemical features, and the prevalence is higher among women than among men. 2 Subclinical hypothyroidism is a possible contributor to many problems in older persons. Thyroid hormones have multiple effects, since they act as an essential regulatory factor in numerous physiological systems, including the vascular tree and the heart, 3 the brain (including cognition), 4 skeletal muscle, and bone. 5 Tiredness is the most important symptom of overt hypothyroidism, 6 but . . .