Authors: Boekholdt, S. Matthijs¹; Titan, Silvia M.²; Wiersinga, Wilmar M.³; Chatterjee, Krishna⁴; Basart, Dick C.G.⁵; Luben, Robert²; Wareham, Nicholas J.⁶; Khaw, Kay-Tee²

Source: Clinical Endocrinology, Volume 72, Number 3, March 2010 , pp. 404-410(7)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Summary Context 

Thyroid status affects several aspects of cardiovascular risk profile, including lipid levels and blood pressure. Whether thyroid status affects the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and all-cause mortality remains controversial. Design 

The EPIC-Norfolk prospective population study. Mean follow-up was 10·6 years. Patients 

Study participants were 11 554 men and women aged 45-79 years, who were living in Norfolk, UK. Measurements 

Baseline cardiovascular risk factors were recorded and concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) were measured in baseline samples. Regression analyses were performed to assess the association between thyroid hormone levels and cardiovascular risk factors. A proportional hazards model was used to estimate the risk of CHD and all-cause mortality by baseline thyroid status. No information was available on thyroid treatment during follow-up. Results 

Thyroid abnormalities were common, particularly among women. Thyroid abnormalities were associated with an altered cardiovascular risk profile. Even within the normal range, thyroid hormone levels, TSH more strongly than FT4, were associated with lipid levels and blood pressure among both men and women. We did not observe a significant association between subclinical thyroid abnormalities and risk of CHD or all-cause mortality. Conclusions 

Despite the association between thyroid hormone levels and cardiovascular risk factors, thyroid status was not statistically significantly associated with the risk of future CHD or all-cause mortality in this large cohort.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2265.2009.03640.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands 2: Institute of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK 3: Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands 4: Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK 5: Department of Cardiology, Westfries Gasthuis, Hoorn, the Netherlands 6: Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Cambridge, UK

Publication date: 2010-03-01

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• In this Subject: Anatomy & Physiology ,  Internal Medicine
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