Prevalence of Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction and Its Relation to Socioeconomic Deprivation in the Elderly: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Undiagnosed overt thyroid dysfunction is uncommon. The prevalence of subclinical thyroid dysfunction is 5%. We have, for the first time, identified an independent association between the prevalence of subclinical thyroid dysfunction and deprivation that cannot be explained solely by the greater burden of chronic disease and/or consequent drug therapies in the deprived population.