Abstract

ASSOCIATION OF METABOLIC SYNDROME WITH THYROID STATUS. A DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS

Mohammad Obaid*, Mohammad Ashraf and Sabhiya Majid

ABSTRACT

Background: Hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome (MS) are both individual risk factors for development of cardiovascular disease. Researchers have pointed out towards the possibility of a relationship between the two. Studies on the subject have shown mixed results in western populations. The Indian scenario remains obscure. Aims and objectives: To evaluate the relationship of MS and its components with hypothyroidism. Materials and methods: 100 hypothyroid patients and 100 age and gender matched controls were taken in this cross sectional study conducted in departments of Biochemistry and General Medicine, GMCH, Srinagar. MS was defined according to modified NCEP-ATP III criteria. A questionnaire that included history, clinical details including anthropometric measures and blood pressure was used for the study. Thyroid hormones, lipid profile and blood glucose levels were estimated. Results and Conclusions: MS was significantly associated with thyroid status with an odds ratio of 2.1 (CI 1.1 to 3.9) with a p-value of 0.02 after correcting for confounding factors . Hypothyroid patients reported TG levels of 184± 102 mg/dl, waist circumference of 91 ± 12 cm and HDL levels of 41±10 mg/dl which were all statistically significant (p<0.05)as compared to euthyroid controls. Fasting blood glucose and blood pressure levels were similar in both groups (p>0.05). Regression analysis revealed significant association of thyroid status with history of hypertension (p=0.02). Thus a significant association of MS and its components with thyroid status was observed in the study. The practice of monitoring the parameters of MS in patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism appears justified.

Keywords: Hypothyroidism, Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity, Hypertension.