Thyroid Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Dysglycemia
Reema Shah1, Steven Orlov1, Guillaume Paré1
1Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Subclinical hypothyroidism increases cardiovascular event and mortality risk in high-risk individuals with dysglycemia. Levothyroxine use was associated with fewer deaths in this population.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Subclinical thyroid disease is a common endocrine dysfunction.
- Thyroid dysfunction is linked to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, particularly in high-risk individuals.
- Individuals with dysglycemia and cardiovascular risk factors are a key population for study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the association between thyroid function and thyroid hormone replacement therapy with cardiovascular outcomes.
- To evaluate cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk individuals with dysglycemia and thyroid dysfunction.
- To determine the impact of subclinical hypothyroidism and levothyroxine use on cardiovascular events and mortality.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 8,401 participants from the ORIGIN trial with baseline thyrotropin (TSH) measurements.
- Assessment of composite cardiovascular outcomes, including myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and cardiovascular death.
- Estimation of hazard ratios for outcomes based on baseline TSH levels (euthyroid, subclinical hypothyroidism, overt hypothyroidism) and levothyroxine use, with adjustments for clinical characteristics.
Main Results:
- Subclinical hypothyroidism (5.5% of participants) was associated with an increased risk of an expanded cardiovascular outcome (HR=1.24) and mortality (HR=1.37).
- Overt hypothyroidism was present in 2.2% of participants.
- Levothyroxine use was linked to a reduction in deaths (HR=0.72).
Conclusions:
- Subclinical hypothyroidism is a predictor of future cardiovascular events and mortality in individuals with dysglycemia and cardiovascular risk factors.
- Thyroid hormone replacement therapy (levothyroxine) may offer a survival benefit in this population.
- These findings highlight the importance of thyroid function assessment in cardiovascular risk stratification.
Objectives:
Subclinical thyroid disease is the most common form of thyroid dysfunction and may be associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in people at high risk for cardiovascular events. Our objective in this study was to assess the association of thyroid function and thyroid hormone replacement with cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk individuals with dysglycemia and additional cardiovascular risk factors.
Methods:
The relationship between baseline thyrotropin (TSH) level and incidence of the composite outcome of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death; an expanded composite of this outcome plus revascularization or hospitalization for heart failure; and mortality was assessed in 8,401 ORIGIN trial participants with a baseline measurement of TSH. The hazard of each outcome according to either baseline levothyroxine use or TSH-defined hyperthyroidism, euthyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, and overt hypothyroidism was estimated before and after adjustment for baseline demographic and clinical characteristics and treatment allocation.
Results:
Of all participants, 91.5% were euthyroid, 0.8% were hyperthyroid, 5.5% had subclinical hypothyroidism, and 2.2% had overt hypothyroidism. Subclinical hypothyroidism predicted both the expanded cardiovascular outcome (hazard ratio [HR]=1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06 to 1.46) and mortality (HR=1.37, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.67), whereas levothyroxine use predicted fewer deaths (HR=0.72, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.94).
Conclusion:
Subclinical hypothyroidism predicts future cardiovascular events and mortality in people with dysglycemia and other cardiovascular risk factors.
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