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Cardiovascular Health Protects against Thyroid Dysfunction: Findings from the UK Biobank
Jilong Bai1,2, Rui Ren1,2, Panting Wei2
1Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Endocrinology and Metabolism (Seoul, Korea)
|August 5, 2026
Summary
Maintaining good cardiovascular health (CVH) significantly lowers the risk of developing thyroid dysfunction, including hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. This protective effect is amplified in individuals with positive mental health, highlighting the importance of holistic well-being.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Thyroid Dysfunction
- Mental Health
Background:
- Limited research exists on the link between cardiovascular health (CVH) and thyroid dysfunction.
- The influence of depression and anxiety on this relationship is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cardiovascular health and the risk of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
- To explore the mediating role of inflammatory markers and the modifying effects of depression and anxiety.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 360,332 UK Biobank participants without baseline thyroid disease.
- Cox proportional hazards regression and weighted quantile sum regression were used to analyze associations and contributions of CVH components.
- Multi-state models examined disease trajectories and the impact of mental health.
Main Results:
- Higher CVH scores were linked to significantly lower risks of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
- Obesity and tobacco use were major contributors to thyroid disease risk among CVH components.
- Depression and anxiety modified the CVH-hypothyroidism association, with CVH showing protective effects across disease pathways.
Conclusions:
- Favorable cardiovascular health is associated with reduced thyroid dysfunction risk.
- Mental health status plays a crucial role in the protective effects of CVH against thyroid disease.
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