Hypothyroidism

The best available estimate of the prevalence of hypothyroidism in the general population is 0,35%.
Bileewicz ada colleagues developed a weighted clinical index for use in patients with suspected
hypothyroidism. In the original population, this index achieved a sensitivity of close to 100%, but
with a specificity of just 50%. A more recent study from India found that similar sensitivity and
specificity counld be achieved with the index, but using a lower cutoff than Billewicz’s study. This
finding could reflect population differences, inclusion of a different spectrum of case, or use of
different criteria to define disease. The usefulness of this index in the elderly ambulatory population
is not known.