Topic Overview
Hypothyroidism is the most common type of thyroid
problem. The incidence tends to increase with age, with women older than 60 at
highest risk. Hypothyroidism tends to run in families.
- Hypothyroidism occurs in 4 to 5 out of 100 people
in the United States.1
- Hypothyroidism is
more common in older people than in younger and more common in women than in
men.
- In iodine-deficient areas of the world, 10 to 20 times more
people have hypothyroidism than in the United States.2
- Mild (subclinical) hypothyroidism affects up to
20 out of 100 of women older than 60.1
- About 2 out of 100 of pregnant women in the United
States develop hypothyroidism.1
- 1 out of
every 4,000 infants born worldwide has hypothyroidism. Girls are twice as
likely to have hypothyroidism as boys.3
References
Citations
- Brent GA, et al. (2008). Hypothyroidism and
thyroiditis. In HM Kronenberg et al, eds., Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, 11th ed., pp. 377–409. Philadelphia: Saunders
Elsevier.
- Ladenson P, Kim M (2008). Hypothyroidism section of
The thyroid. In L Goldman, D Ausiello, eds., Cecil Medicine, 23rd ed., pp. 1700–1703. Philadelphia: Saunders
Elsevier.
- LaFranchi S (2007). Hypothyroidism section of
Disorders of the thyroid gland. In RE Kliegman et al., eds., Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 18th ed., pp. 2319–2327.
Philadelphia: Saunders.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology |
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| Last Revised | July 16, 2010 |
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Last Revised:
July 16, 2010
Brent GA, et al. (2008). Hypothyroidism and
thyroiditis. In HM Kronenberg et al, eds., Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, 11th ed., pp. 377–409. Philadelphia: Saunders
Elsevier.
Ladenson P, Kim M (2008). Hypothyroidism section of
The thyroid. In L Goldman, D Ausiello, eds., Cecil Medicine, 23rd ed., pp. 1700–1703. Philadelphia: Saunders
Elsevier.
LaFranchi S (2007). Hypothyroidism section of
Disorders of the thyroid gland. In RE Kliegman et al., eds., Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 18th ed., pp. 2319–2327.
Philadelphia: Saunders.