Wang GC, Talor MV, Rose NR, Cappola AR, Chiou RB, Weiss C, Walston JD, Fried LP, Caturegli P. Thyroid autoantibodies are associated with a reduced prevalence of frailty in community-dwelling older women.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2010;
95:1161-8. [PMID:
20061418 PMCID:
PMC2841533 DOI:
10.1210/jc.2009-1991]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT
The contribution of autoimmunity to the multisystem dysregulation that characterizes the frailty syndrome in older adults is unknown.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between thyroid antibodies and frailty in older women.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
We conducted a cross-sectional study nested within the Women's Health and Aging Studies I and II. Thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAbs), thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAbs), and antinuclear antibodies were measured in the baseline sera of 641 community-dwelling older women.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
Frailty was defined using a validated five-component measure.
RESULTS
The prevalence of prefrailty and frailty was lower in TgAb-positive than negative older women (37.1 vs. 47.8% and 6.7 vs.11.9%, respectively; P = 0.01 and 0.03). The prevalence of prefrailty, but not frailty, was lower in TPOAb-positive than negative women (38.9 vs. 48.0% and 10.1 vs. 11.3%; P = 0.04 and 0.34). After adjustment for covariates including serum thyroid stimulation hormone concentration and thyroid medication usage in multinomial regression models, TgAb-positive older women had lower odds of prefrailty and frailty compared with TgAb-negative women (odds ratio 0.57 and 0.30; 95% confidence interval 0.34-0.98 and 0.10-0.85, respectively). Similarly, TPOAb-positive older women had lower odds of frailty compared with TPOAb-negative women (odds ratio 0.44; 95% confidence interval 0.20-0.96). These trends were not observed with antinuclear antibodies.
CONCLUSION
Independent of thyroid function status, community-dwelling older women who are seropositive for TgAbs and TPOAbs are less likely to be frail than seronegative women.
Collapse