Who is affected by hyperthyroidism?

Can occur at any age but rarely affects children.
Affects women more often than men.

Graves' disease, the most common cause of hyperthyroidism:

Is estimated to occur in about 1 in every 1,000 women per year.¹
Affects up to 10 times more women than men.²
Is most common in people younger than 40.²

References

Citations

Davies TF, Larsen PR (2003). Thyrotoxicosis. In PR Larsen et al., eds., Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, 10th ed., pp. 374–420. Philadelphia: Saunders.

Fisher JN (2002). Management of thyrotoxicosis. Southern Medical Journal, 95(5): 493–505.

Credits

Author	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Editor	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology & Metabolism
Last Updated	December 3, 2007