Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between the elevated TSH and fracture risk in postmenopausal women with subclinical hypothyroidism for evaluation of individuals with a high risk for osteoporotic fractures.
DESIGN
FRAX score calculation (10-year estimated risk for bone fracture) and measurement of bone markers (osteocalcin and beta cross-laps) were performed in 82 postmenopausal women with newly discovered subclinical hypothyroidism (mean age 59.17±7.07, mean BMI 27.89±3.46kg/m2, menopause onset in 48.05±4.09 years of age) and 51 matched controls (mean age 59.69±5.72, mean BMI 27.68±4.66kg/m2, menopause onset in 48.53±4.58 years of age) with normal thyroid function.
RESULTS
The main FRAX score was significantly higher in the group with subclinical hypothyroidism than in the controls (6.50±4.58 vs. 4.35±1.56; p = 0.001). Hip FRAX score was significantly higher in the group with subclinical hypothyroidism (1.11±1.94 vs. 0.50±0.46; p=0.030). There was no significant difference in bone markers: osteocalcin (23.99±12.63 vs. 21.79±5.34 ng/mL; p=0.484) and beta cross-laps (365.76±184.84 vs. 306.88±110.73 pg/mL; p = 0.21) between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Postmenopausal patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, in particular of autoimmune origin, have higher FRAX scores and a thus greater risk for low-trauma hip fracture than euthyroid postmenopausal women. Our results point to the need to monitor postmenopausal patients with subclinical hypothyroidism for avoidance of fractures.
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Polovina, S., Popovic, V., Duntas, L. et al. Frax score calculations in postmenopausal women with subclinical hypothyroidism. Hormones 12, 439–448 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03401309
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03401309