Abstract
Thyroid dysfunction is a known factor for cardiovascular morbidity. It has been shown that both subclinical hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism increase significantly cardiovascular risk.
Material and Methods: Two thousand four hundred and four subjects (1343 female, mean age 48.68±14.4 y and 1061 male, mean age 46.51±14.49 y, NS), divided into three age groups (?20-44 y, 45-59 y, ?60y) were included in the study. All participants filled a questionnaire form, underwent clinical examination and blood was drawn for TSH, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides.
Results: The observed prevalence of thyroid dysfunction (TD) was 8.51%, 9.7% in women and 7.01% in men, NS. The prevalence of hypothyroidism was 4,7% (6.19% in women and 2.84% in men, NS) and that of hyperthyroidism was 3.8% (3.5% in women and 4.17% in men, NS). Thyroid dysfunction was undiagnosed in 58% of the cases. The prevalence of hypothyroidism increased with age 2-fold in women and 7-fold in men, while hyperthyroidism increased nearly twice in both sexes. The prevalence of dyslipidemia increased with age (p<0,001). The observed prevalence of CVD was 3.5% (84/2404) – 12 patients (14.3%) with thyroid dysfunction and 72 patients (85.7%) without thyroid dysfunction. A significant correlation was found between age and CVD prevalence – 79.8% of the subjects with CVD were ?60 years of age, p<0,001. Thyroid dysfunction prevalence in subjects with CVD was 74.7% higher than in the group without CVD (14.5% vs. 8.3%). Thyroid dysfunction was 3 times more frequent in men with CVD than in those without (18.2% vs. 6.5%, NS), while the thyroid dysfunction prevalence in female subjects with CVD and without CVD did not differ (10.0% vs. 9.6%).
Conclusion: This is an interesting and important observation that should lead us to more aggressive diagnostic work out and concurrent screening for thyroid disorders.