Comparative Study of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Patients with and Without Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

Background: A group of metabolic abnormalities known as metabolic syndrome (MetS) greatly raises the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular illnesses. People with MetS frequently have subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), which is defined by high levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with normal free thyroxine (T4). The research examined the relationship between thyroid function and metabolic parameters, as well as to assess the incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism in individuals with and without MetS.

Methods: There were 960 participants in all, 480 of whom had a diagnosis of MetS and 480 of whom were healthy controls. Blood pressure and waist circumference were measured clinically. After an overnight fast, blood samples were taken utilising fully automated clinical chemistry and hormone analyzers to assay lipid profile, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and thyroid function tests (T3, T4, and TSH). The Pearson correlation coefficient and Student's t-test were used to analyse the data.

Results: Statistically, there was a significant variation in the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism between the MetS group (16.3%) and the control group (5%; p < 0.001). In addition to having decreased HDL cholesterol, MetS patients also had higher FBG, blood pressure, triglycerides, and waist circumference. TSH levels and the elements of MetS, such as waist circumference (r = 0.41, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.38, p < 0.001), FBG(r = 0.44, p < 0.001), triglycerides (r = 0.39, p < 0.001), and HDL cholesterol (r = -0.32, p < 0.001), were found to be significantly correlated with each other.

Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that people with metabolic syndrome have a higher incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism, which may indicate a relationship between thyroid function and metabolic health. Regular thyroid function testing could help improve clinical outcomes by enabling early detection and management of SCH in MetS patients.

Recommendations: When treating patients with metabolic syndrome, healthcare professionals should think about doing routine thyroid function tests. To manage thyroid dysfunction in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS), further research is required to investigate the underlying mechanisms and create tailored therapies.

Keywords: Metabolic Syndrome, Subclinical Hypothyroidism, Thyroid Function, Cardiovascular Risk, Metabolic Health