Thyroid Function Status in Elderly Male

With the advancement of age, the production, metabolism and action of thyroid hormone are also changed. The incidence of thyroid dysfunction is increased greatly with age. Aim of the study was to assess the age-related change in thyroid function status in elderly male in order to compare it with younger male. This analytical type of cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh from January 2019 to December 2019. A total number of 140 male subjects were included in this study. Among them seventy (70) younger male were taken as control group (Group I) and seventy (70) elderly male were taken as study group (Group II). For assessment of thyroid function, serum free tri-iodothyronine (FT₃), free thyroxine (FT₄) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were estimated by RIA method. Data were expressed as mean (±SD) and statistical significance of difference among the group was calculated by unpaired student's t-test. Pearson's correlation coefficient test was done to find the correlation of serum FT₃, FT₄ & TSH with age. In this study we found that mean serum free tri-iodothyronine (FT₃) & free thyroxine (FT₄) levels were significantly lower and serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level was significantly higher in elderly male persons in comparison to younger male. Again, serum FT₃, FT₄ was negatively correlated with age of the subjects whereas serum TSH level was positively correlated with age of the subjects. Based on the study carried out it is concluded that there is a progressive decrease in thyroid function with advancement of age.