Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of subclinical thyroid dysfunction and the relationship between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. METHODS: 300 postmenopausal women screened for osteoporosis between January 2018 and December 2019 in Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases were included in the study. Demographic data, thyroid -stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels and bone mineral densitometry (BMD) measurements of all participants were recorded retrospectively from the hospital registry system. All participants were divided into 3 groups as euthyroid, subclinical hyperthyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism. The euthyroid group was also divided into two groups, those with high normal TSH and low normal TSH. Subclinical thyroid dysfunction was defined as subclinical hyperthyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism. Individuals with overt hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Subclinical thyroid dysfunction was detected in 10.66% of postmenopausal women [subclinical hyperthyroidism: 21 (7%); subclinical hypothyroidism: 11 (3.66%)]. No statistically significant difference was found in subjects with subclinical thyroid dysfunction in terms of vertebral (L1-4) and femoral bone mineral density compared to the euthyroid group. (p=0.67 and p= 0.18; respectively). Among the subgroups with high normal TSH levels and low normal TSH levels in the euthyroid group, the frequency of osteoporosis, vertebral (L1-4) and femoral BMD measurments were similar (p=0.93, p=0.85, p=0.73, respectively). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We found no significant associations between subclinical thyroid dysfunctions and BMD in postmenopausal women.

Keywords: