Differential Diagnosis. Diagnosis of hypothyroidism is not easy because most of the symptoms, especially in mild cases, are nonspecific and are frequently attributed to other causes or to the aging process itself. This is especially a problem in older patients because symptoms such as fatigue, lack of concentration, dry skin, and many others are considered to be normal parts of the aging process. Three different clinical conditions; hypothyroidism, depression, and presence of anemia, share common and nonspecific symptoms and are each common conditions in older people (Bensenor, 2012).
Anemia. The frequency of anemia, defined according to the World Health Organization, is higher than 10% in community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older, and is frequently associated with other clinical conditions (Bensenor, 2012).
Depression. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism must be considered in every patient with depression. A small proportion of all patients with depression have primary hypothyroidism (Garber, 2012). Depressive symptoms, or depression, are common in elderly people, especially associated with other physical comorbidities (Bensenor, 2012). …show more content…
The most common form of thyroid failure has an autoimmune etiology. There is also an increased frequency of other autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes, pernicious anemia, primary adrenal failure (Addison’s disease), myasthenia gravis, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rarely thyroid lymphoma. When adrenal insufficiency is present, the diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism should be deferred until after glucocorticoid therapy has been instituted because TSH levels may be elevated in the presence of untreated adrenal insufficiency and may normalize with glucocorticoid therapy (Garber,
Anemia. The frequency of anemia, defined according to the World Health Organization, is higher than 10% in community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older, and is frequently associated with other clinical conditions (Bensenor, 2012).
Depression. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism must be considered in every patient with depression. A small proportion of all patients with depression have primary hypothyroidism (Garber, 2012). Depressive symptoms, or depression, are common in elderly people, especially associated with other physical comorbidities (Bensenor, 2012). …show more content…
The most common form of thyroid failure has an autoimmune etiology. There is also an increased frequency of other autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes, pernicious anemia, primary adrenal failure (Addison’s disease), myasthenia gravis, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rarely thyroid lymphoma. When adrenal insufficiency is present, the diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism should be deferred until after glucocorticoid therapy has been instituted because TSH levels may be elevated in the presence of untreated adrenal insufficiency and may normalize with glucocorticoid therapy (Garber,