The natural history of subclinical hypothyroidism in the elderly: the cardiovascular health study.

Context: Studies of long-term outcomes of subclinical hypothyroidism have assessed only baseline thyroid function, despite natural transitions to euthyroidism and overt hypothyroidism over time.

Objective: We provide estimates of persistence, resolution, and progression of subclinical hypothyroidism over 4 yr, stratified by baseline TSH, anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) status, age, and sex.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Participants were 3996 U.

Predictors of thyroid hormone initiation in older adults: results from the cardiovascular health study.

Background: Despite widespread use, there are no data on initiation of thyroid hormone use in older people. We report the prevalence of thyroid hormone use and predictors of thyroid hormone initiation in a population of older men and women.

Methods: Thyroid hormone medication data were collected annually from 1989 to 2006 in community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years and older enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study (N = 5,888).

High frequency of and factors associated with thyroid hormone over-replacement and under-replacement in men and women aged 65 and over.

Context: Thyroid hormone use is common in older populations, but the frequency of over- or under-replacement is debated.

Objective: We sought to describe the frequency of and factors associated with thyroid hormone over- or under-replacement in a population of older men and women.

Design: Participants were 3678 U.