Hyperthyroidism--a disease of old age?

In a three-year project in which thyroid studies were undertaken for broad indications 49 cases of thyrotoxicosis were diagnosed; 28 of these patients were 60 years of age or older. Sixteen of these older patients had different forms of atypical thyrotoxicosis, and most were completely without the usual symptoms of the condition. It is concluded that thyrotoxicosis is more frequent in persons over 60 than in younger persons. Many older patients have various forms of masked thyrotoxicosis, and in many cases the correct diagnosis can be made only by undertaking thyroid studies on very wide indications.