Cardiovascular disease risk factors and its association with subclinical hypothyroidism

Aim: Hypothyroidism is proved to be associated with atherosclerosis and cardio-vascular disease. But correlation between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and increased cardiovascular risk is yet to be established. This study was done to investigate subclinical hypothyroidism and its associations with cardiovascular diseases. Objectives: To quantitatively detect the levels of lipid profile parameters and range of blood pressure, in subclinical hypothyroid and euthyroid subjects. To correlate cardio vascular disease risk factors and their association with subclinical hypothyroidism. Materials and Method: total sixty SCH cases and sixty euthyroid controls were compared. Serums levels of T3, T4, TSH were estimated by standard ELISA kit method, Serum LDL-Cholesterol using Friedewald equation, Triglycerides by GPO-POD with espas method, and Total-Cholesterol, HDL-Cholesterol by enzymatic CHOD-PAP by enzyme colorimetric method. Result: Study showed increased mean serum levels of LDL Cholesterol, Total cholesterol, TSH, Triglycerides, systolic & diastolic BP. Serum levels of T4, HDL-Cholesterol remained normal. Number of people with increased Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, LDL-C, systolic BP & diastolic BP and decreased HDL-C were more in subclinical hypothyroidism compared to euthyroid cases suggesting the dyslipidemic and hypertensive changes in SCH cases. Conclusion: Study showed that cardio-vascular risk factors are highly associated with hypertension and dyslipidemic state seen in subclinical hypothyroidism cases, suggesting the higher association with subclinical hypothyroidism and risk factors of cardio-vascular disease.