The Relationship Between Thyroid Function and Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Chinese Population

Abstract

Objective: The present study examined the relationship between thyroid function status and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a Chinese population.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were obtained from the Thyroid Disease, Iodine Nutrition and Diabetes Epidemiology (TIDE) Survey. A total of 62,408 subjects aged ≥18 years were enrolled. Differences in metabolic indicators and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to sex and thyroid function status were compared. Logistic regression was used to analyze the influence of thyroid function on metabolic syndrome and its components.

Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was generally higher in men than women. Overt hyperthyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism had a significant effect on metabolism in men. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and triglycerides (TGs) were significantly lower in men in the overt hyperthyroidism group, and BMI, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and TGs were higher in men in the subclinical hypothyroidism group than men in the normal group. Overt and subclinical hypothyroidism had significant impacts on metabolic components in women. BMI, waist circumference, TGs, SBP and DBP in the subclinical and overt hypothyroidism groups were significantly higher than the euthyroid group in women. The relative risk of abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridemia was increased in women with hypothyroidism. Thyroid dysfunction had different effects on metabolic syndrome and its components before and after menopause.

Conclusion: Thyroid function had important effects on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Women with hypothyroidism, especially post-menopausal women, had a higher risk of metabolic syndrome than men.

Keywords: hyperglycaemia; hyperthyroidism; hypertriglyceridemia; hypothyroidism; metabolic syndrome; thyroid function.