A Horizontal and Longitudinal Study on the Changes of Aging Thyroid Function in Elderly Male Population

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Geriatrics
• Thyroid Research

Background:

• Limited longitudinal studies exist on thyroid function changes in the same individuals over extended periods.
• Understanding age-related thyroid function shifts in elderly men is crucial for clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively analyze thyroid function changes in elderly men over an 8-year period.
• To explore the impact of aging on thyroid function parameters in men with normal baseline thyroid function.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 354 elderly men's physical examination records from 2013-2020.
• Subjects were categorized into four age groups (<60, 60-69, 70-79, ≥80 years).
• Comparison of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), reverse triiodothyronine (rT3), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4) levels cross-sectionally and longitudinally.

Main Results:

• Initial analysis showed age negatively correlated with FT3 and positively with rT3 and TSH.
• Longitudinal analysis revealed significantly higher TSH in the ≥80 years group compared to younger groups.
• FT3 levels showed a trend of decreasing then increasing, while FT4 changes with age were unclear; rT3 increased with age in older groups.

Conclusions:

• Thyroid function indices in elderly men exhibit age-dependent alterations, with distinct cross-sectional and longitudinal patterns.
• The oldest group (≥80 years) presented the highest TSH and lowest FT3 values.
• Individual variability in thyroid function changes with age necessitates careful consideration in clinical practice and research.