Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Metabolic Syndrome: A Common Association by Chance or a Cardiovascular Risk Driver?

Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2016 Oct;14(8):378-380. doi: 10.1089/met.2016.29009.bon. Epub 2016 Aug 23.

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome (MS) and subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) are highly prevalent in the general population. Cross-sectional epidemiological data suggest that a mutual association exists between the two, although the cause-effect relationship remains poorly elucidated. As SCH raises cholesterol, blood pressure, and visceral fat, it is easy to understand why it associates with MS. Rather, the reasons whereby MS patients are at higher risk for SCH are less apparent. Some studies have reported that SCH is itself characterized by high cardiovascular risk. Therefore, the coexistence of SCH and MS may identify subjects at a particularly high risk for future cardiovascular events. Recent data published in Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders indicate that carotid intima-media thickness, a marker of initial atherosclerosis and a possible predictor of future events, is higher in patients with both SCH and MS than in the presence of each condition alone. In this Editorial, we discuss the clinical implications of SCH and MS association and the interpretation of such recent findings.

Publication types

  • Editorial
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Cardiovascular Diseases / complications
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
  • Humans
  • Hypothyroidism / complications*
  • Hypothyroidism / epidemiology
  • Metabolic Syndrome / complications*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors