Fractures in Patients with Primary Idiopathic Hypothyroidism

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Abstract
AimTo study fracture risk and risk factors for fractures in patients with primary idiopathic hypothyroidism (ICD 10: E03.9). DesignHistorical follow-up. Material and MethodsA self-administered questionnaire was issued to 628 patients with primary idiopathic levothyroxine-substituted hypothyroidism. A total of 412 (65.6%) responded and of these, 408 could be analyzed. The 408 respondents were age- (±5 years) and gender-matched with 408 normal controls randomly selected from the background population who responded to the same questionnaire. ResultsOverall fracture risk was increased in patients compared to controls (relative risk: RR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0-2.5). However, the increase was temporary and limited to the period within the first 2 years after the diagnosis of hypothyroidism (RR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.4-7.0). Before the diagnosis and more than 2 years after the diagnosis, the fracture risk in patients did not deviate from that of the controls. The increase in fracture risk was only significant in the age gr...