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Predictors of Thyroid Hormone Initiation in Older Adults: Results From the Cardiovascular Health Study

LL Somwaru, AM Arnold... - The Journals ..., 2011 - biomedgerontology.oxfordjournals. ...Results. In 19891990, 8.9% (95% confidence interval 8.1%9.7%) of participants were taking a thyroid hormone preparation, increasing to 20.0% (95% confidence interval 8.2%21.8%) over 16 years. The average initiation rate was 1% per year. The initiation rate was nonlinear ...

Results. In 1989–1990, 8.9% (95% confidence interval 8.1%–9.7%) of participants were taking a thyroid hormone preparation, increasing to 20.0% (95% confidence interval 8.2%–21.8%) over 16 years. The average initiation rate was 1% per year. The initiation rate was nonlinear with age, and those aged 85 years and older initiated thyroid hormone more than twice as frequently as those aged 65–69 years (hazard ratio = 2.34; 95% confidence interval 1.43–3.85). White women were more likely to initiate thyroid hormone than any other race and sex group. Higher body mass index was independently associated with higher risk for initiation (p = .002) as was greater education (p = .02) and prevalent coronary heart disease (p = .03).