Evaluation Of Lipid Profile In Thyroid Dysfunction

Abstract

Thyroid hormones play an important role in the regulation of lipid metabolism. Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined as a slight increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with normal levels of thyroxine (T4). Hypothyroidism could be associated with altered lipid panels. This study aimed at evaluating the association between hypothyroidism and altered lipid profile. Data of 54 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and 54 healthy individuals were collected from SBMCH laboratory. The participants belong to the age group of 20-50 years. Patients with TSH in the range of 4.2 to 10 mU/L, and T4 in the range 0.8 to 2.8 ng/dL were ruled out as hypothyroid. Control had a normal TSH ranging from 0.5 to 4.2 mU/L. The total serum cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) levels were examined in both groups and the results were recorded. Participants with hypothyroidism had significantly higher LDL and lower HDL levels than the control group irrespective of age group and gender (P-value <0.001), but no difference in TG and TC levels (P-value <0.05) were observed. The prevalence of dyslipidemia and hypothyroidism was only significant in females (P-value =0.009). There was significant correlation between the prevalence of dyslipidemia and hypothyroidism regardless of gender (P-value =0.04). Hypothyroidism is associated with dyslipidemia, and biochemical screening for dyslipidemia is recommended in all patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.