[Incidence and characteristics of clinical and sub-clinic hyperthyroidism]

Estimate the incidence of hyperthyroidism in the region of Lleida and compare patients with clinic and subclinic hyperthyroidism.

Descriptive retrospective.

City of Lleida and the towns of the provinces of Lleida and Huesca.

190 people diagnosed of hyperthyroidism detected from a sample of 1885 patients with different pathologies, belonging to first visits to de Service of Endocrinology of the Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, during the period from 1999 to 2000.

The following clinic and demographical variables related to the thyroid pathology were recorded: TSH, T(4), T(3), anti-Tg antibodies, anti-TPO antibodies, age, gender, consumption of salt with iodine and the incidence tax of hyperthyroidism.

The incidence tax of hyperthyroidism in the province of Lleida was 46.2 ×10(5) people/year (95% CI, 33.5-61.0). For the 190 patients, the 85% (95% CI, 79.4-90) of them were women; the 38% (95% CI, 31%-45.2%) and the 62% (95% CI, 54.8-69) were diagnosed of clinic and subclinic hyperthyroidism respectively. The subclinic profile was characteristically for had a superior mean of age (P<.003), double of TSH level (P<.03) and half of T(4) level of (P<.001).

Our study shows a high incidence of hyperthyroidism, and a difference of the two hyperthyroidisms. The detection of this pathology by professionals of primary care can help to improve their therapeutic control.