Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-mp689 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T03:17:16.172Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 29 - Endocrine disorders in the elderly

from Section III - Care of the elderly by organ system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2016

Jan Busby-Whitehead
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina
Christine Arenson
Affiliation:
Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia
Samuel C. Durso
Affiliation:
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Daniel Swagerty
Affiliation:
University of Kansas
Laura Mosqueda
Affiliation:
University of Southern California
Maria Fiatarone Singh
Affiliation:
University of Sydney
William Reichel
Affiliation:
Georgetown University, Washington DC
Get access

Summary

Diagnosis and management of endocrine disease in the geriatric population is challenging, with calcium, thyroid, pituitary and adrenal disorders being particular areas of concern. Hypercalcemia should prompt a workup for both parathyroid hormone (PTH) and non-PTH mediated etiologies. While primary hyperparathyroidism is most common in the seventh decade of life, secondary hyperparathyroidism is most common in the setting of vitamin D deficiency and chronic kidney disease. The latter may progress to tertiary hyperparathyroidism, particularly in individuals with renal disease and on hemodialysis. Hypercalcemia in the setting of a suppressed PTH, in contrast, should prompt a workup for underlying malignancy. Thyroid disease may be functional or structural. Management of both overt and subclinical hypo-/hyperthyroidism must take into account symptomatology and risk factors (including underlying cardiac and bone disease), and individualized treatment goals are important. Incidental radiographic findings are more common in the elderly, and appropriate clinical, radiographic, and biochemical correlation are necessary to optimize individual care.
Type
Chapter
Information
Reichel's Care of the Elderly
Clinical Aspects of Aging
, pp. 408 - 420
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2016

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Pyram, R, Mahajan, G, Gliwa, A. Primary hyperparathyroidism: Skeletal and non-skeletal effects, diagnosis and management. Maturitas. 2011;70(3):246255.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bilezikian, JP, Khan, AA, Potts, JT Jr. Third International Workshop on the Management of Asymptomatic Primary Hyperthyroidism. Guidelines for the management of asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism: Summary statement from the third international workshop. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009;94(2):335339.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Boonen, S, Vanderschueren, D, Pelemans, W, Bouillon, R. Primary hyperparathyroidism: Diagnosis and management in the older individual. Eur J Endocrinol. 2004;151(3):297304.Google Scholar
Grant, P, Velusamy, A. What is the best way of assessing neurocognitive dysfunction in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism? J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014;99(1):4955.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marcocci, C, Cetani, F. Clinical practice: primary hyperparathyroidism. N Engl J Med. 2011;365(25):23892397.Google Scholar
Cesari, M, Incalzi, RA, Zamboni, V, Pahor, M. Vitamin D hormone: a multitude of actions potentially influencing the physical function decline in older persons. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2011;11(2):133142.Google Scholar
Holick, MF, Binkley, NC, Bischoff-Ferrari, HA, et al. Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(7):19111930.Google Scholar
Dawson-Hughes, B, Mithal, A, Bonjour, JP, et al. IOF position statement: vitamin D recommendations for older adults. Osteoporos Int. 2010;21(7):11511154.Google Scholar
American Geriatrics Society Workgroup on Vitamin D Supplementation for Older Adults. Recommendations abstracted from the American geriatrics society consensus statement on vitamin D for prevention of falls and their consequences. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2013;62:147152.Google Scholar
Malik, R. Vitamin D and secondary hyperparathyroidism in the institutionalized elderly: a literature review. J Nutr Elder. 2007;26(3–4):119138.Google Scholar
Avenell, A, Gillespie, WJ, Gillespie, LD, O’Connell, DL. Vitamin D and vitamin D analogues for preventing fractures associated with involutional and post-menopausal osteoporosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;3:CD000227.Google Scholar
Fraser, WD. Hyperparathyroidism. Lancet. 2009;374(9684):145158.Google Scholar
McCauley, LK, Martin, TJ. Twenty-five years of PTHrP progress: from cancer hormone to multifunctional cytokine. J Bone Miner Res. 2012;27(6):12311239.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bensenor, IM, Olmos, RD, Lotufo, PA. Hypothyroidism in the elderly: diagnosis and management. Clin Interv Aging. 2012;7:97111.Google Scholar
Boelaert, K. Thyroid dysfunction in the elderly. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2013;9(4):194204.Google Scholar
Papaleontiou, M, Haymart, MR. Approach to and treatment of thyroid disorders in the elderly. Med Clin North Am. 2012;96(2):297310.Google Scholar
Roos, A, Linn-Rasker, SP, van Domburg, RT, et al. The starting dose of levothyroxine in primary hypothyroidism treatment: a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165(15):17141720.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pasqualetti, G, Tognini, S, Polini, A, et al. Is subclinical hypothyroidism a cardiovascular risk factor in the elderly? J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98(6):22562266.Google Scholar
Collet, TH, Gussekloo, J, Bauer, DC, et al. Subclinical hyperthyroidism and the risk of coronary heart disease and mortality. Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(10):799809.Google Scholar
Biondi, B, Cooper, DS. The clinical significance of subclinical thyroid dysfunction. Endocr Rev. 2008;29(1):76131.Google Scholar
Garber, JR, Cobin, RH, Gharib, H, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for hypothyroidism in adults: Cosponsored by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the American Thyroid Association. Endocr Pract. 2012;18(6):9881028.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Visser, WE, Visser, TJ, Peeters, RP. Thyroid disorders in older adults. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2013;42(2):287303.Google Scholar
De Alfieri, W, Nistico, F, Borgogni, T, et al. Thyroid hormones as predictors of short- and long-term mortality in very old hospitalized patients. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2013;68(9):11221128.Google Scholar
Iglesias, P, Ridruejo, E, Munoz, A, et al. Thyroid function tests and mortality in aged hospitalized patients: a 7-year prospective observational study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98(12):46834690.Google Scholar
Cooper, DS. Approach to the patient with subclinical hyperthyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92(1):39.Google Scholar
American Thyroid Association (ATA) Guidelines Taskforce on Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer, Cooper, DS, Doherty, GM, et al. Revised American Thyroid Association management guidelines for patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. Thyroid. 2009;19(11):11671214.Google Scholar
Gervasi, R, Orlando, G, Lerose, MA, et al. Thyroid surgery in geriatric patients: a literature review. BMC Surg. 2012;12(Suppl 1):S16.Google Scholar
Regal, M, Paramo, C, Sierra, SM, Garcia-Mayor, RV. Prevalence and incidence of hypopituitarism in an adult Caucasian population in northwestern Spain. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2001 Dec;55(6):735740.Google Scholar
Ferrante, L, Trillo, G, Ramundo, E, et al. Surgical treatment of pituitary tumors in the elderly: clinical outcome and long-term follow-up. J Neurooncol 2002 Nov;60(2):185191.Google Scholar
Barzaghi, LR, Losa, M, Giovanelli, M, Mortini, P. Complications of transsphenoidal surgery in patients with pituitary adenoma: experience at a single centre. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2007;149(9):877885; discussion 885886.Google Scholar
Hong, J, Ding, X, Lu, Y. Clinical analysis of 103 elderly patients with pituitary adenomas: transsphenoidal surgery and follow-up. J Clin Neurosci 2008 Oct;15(10):10911095.Google Scholar
Minniti, G, Esposito, V, Piccirilli, M, et al. Diagnosis and management of pituitary tumours in the elderly: a review based on personal experience and evidence of literature. Eur J Endocrinol 2005 Dec;153(6):723735.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ascoli, P, Cavagnini, F. Hypopituitarism. Pituitary 2006;9(4):335342.Google Scholar
Foppiani, L, Ruelle, A, Bandelloni, R, et al. Hypopituitarism in the elderly: multifaceted clinical and biochemical presentation. Curr Aging Sci 2008 Mar;1(1):4250.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Minniti, G, Esposito, V, Piccirilli, M, et al. Diagnosis and management of pituitary tumours in the elderly: a review based on personal experience and evidence of literature. Eur J Endocrinol 2005 Dec;153(6):723735.Google Scholar
Turner, HE, Adams, CB, Wass, JA. Pituitary tumours in the elderly: a 20 year experience. Eur J Endocrinol 1999 May;140(5):383389.Google Scholar
Locatelli, M, Bertani, G, Carrabba, G, et al. The trans-sphenoidal resection of pituitary adenomas in elderly patients and surgical risk. Pituitary 2013 Jun;16(2):146151.Google Scholar
Ferretti, E, Persani, L, Jaffrain-Rea, ML, et al. Evaluation of the adequacy of levothyroxine replacement therapy in patients with central hypothyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999 Mar;84(3):924929.Google Scholar
Ilias, I, Torpy, DJ, Pacak, K, et al. Cushing’s syndrome due to ectopic corticotropin secretion: twenty years’ experience at the National Institutes of Health. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005 Aug;90(8):49554962.Google Scholar
Isidori, AM, Kaltsas, GA, Pozza, C, et al. The ectopic adrenocorticotropin syndrome: clinical features, diagnosis, management, and long-term follow-up. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006 Feb;91(2):371377.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Herrera, MF, Grant, CS, van Heerden, JA, et al. Incidentally discovered adrenal tumors: an institutional perspective. Surgery 1991 Dec;110(6):10141021.Google Scholar
Zeiger, MA, Thompson, GB, Duh, QY, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American Association of Endocrine Surgeons Medical Guidelines for the Management of Adrenal Incidentalomas: executive summary of recommendations. Endocr Pract 2009 Jul–Aug;15(5):450453.Google Scholar
Young, WF Jr. Management approaches to adrenal incidentalomas: a view from Rochester, Minnesota. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 2000 Mar;29(1):159185, x.Google Scholar
Grumbach, MM, Biller, BM, Braunstein, GD, et al. Management of the clinically inapparent adrenal mass (“incidentaloma”). Ann Intern Med 2003 Mar 4;138(5):424429.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nieman, LK. Approach to the patient with an adrenal incidentaloma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2010 Sep;95(9):41064113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lo, CY, van Heerden, JA, Grant, CS, et al. Adrenal surgery in the elderly: too risky? World J Surg 1996 Mar–Apr;20(3):368373; discussion 374.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Funder, JW, Carey, RM, Fardella, C, et al. Case detection, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with primary aldosteronism: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008 Sep;93(9):32663281.Google Scholar
Stowasser, M, Sharman, J, Leano, R, et al. Evidence for abnormal left ventricular structure and function in normotensive individuals with familial hyperaldosteronism type I. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005 Sep;90(9):50705076.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Milliez, P, Girerd, X, Plouin, PF, et al. Evidence for an increased rate of cardiovascular events in patients with primary aldosteronism. J Am Coll Cardiol 2005 Apr 19;45(8):12431248.Google Scholar
Mulatero, P, Stowasser, M, Loh, KC, et al. Increased diagnosis of primary aldosteronism, including surgically correctable forms, in centers from five continents. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004 Mar;89(3):10451050.Google Scholar
Kopetschke, R, Slisko, M, Kilisli, A, et al. Frequent incidental discovery of phaeochromocytoma: data from a German cohort of 201 phaeochromocytoma. Eur J Endocrinol 2009 Aug;161(2):355361.Google Scholar
Lenders, JW, Eisenhofer, G, Mannelli, M, Pacak, K. Phaeochromocytoma. Lancet 2005 Aug 20–26;366(9486):665675.Google Scholar
Khoo, JJ, Au, VS, Chen, RY. Recurrent urosepsis and cardiogenic shock in an elderly patient with pheochromocytoma. Case Rep Endocrinol 2011;2011:759523.Google Scholar
Pacak, K. Preoperative management of the pheochromocytoma patient. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007 Nov;92(11):40694079.Google Scholar
Nieman, LK, Biller, BM, Findling, JW, et al. The diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome: an Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008 May;93(5):15261540.Google Scholar
Arlt, W, Allolio, B. Adrenal insufficiency. Lancet 2003 May 31;361(9372):18811893.Google Scholar
Chen, YC, Chen, YC, Chou, LF, et al. Adrenal insufficiency in the elderly: a nationwide study of hospitalizations in Taiwan. Tohoku J Exp Med 2010 Aug;221(4):281285.Google Scholar
Bornstein, SR. Predisposing factors for adrenal insufficiency. N Engl J Med 2009 May 28;360(22):23282339.Google Scholar
Oelkers, W. Adrenal insufficiency. N Engl J Med 1996 Oct 17;335(16):12061212.Google Scholar
Magnotti, M, Shimshi, M. Diagnosing adrenal insufficiency: which test is best–the 1-microg or the 250-microg cosyntropin stimulation test? Endocr Pract 2008 Mar;14(2):233238.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×