Metabolic Syndrome in Overt and Subclinical Hypothyroidism Syrian Patients

Abstract

Thyroid hormones have important functions in many metabolic pathways, including glucose and lipid metabolism, and may cause metabolic syndrome. Both hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome are common in the Syrian population. This research was carried out to evaluate the incidence of the metabolic syndrome in two types of hypothyroidism and the effect of TSH levels on its occurrence. A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed of 91 overt hypothyroidism patients, 31 subclinical hypothyroidism patients without clinical symptoms, and 53 controls without thyroid disorders. We used the criteria for metabolic syndrome as per International Diabetes Federation (IDF) which are defined as central obesity depending on race- and gender-specific WC cutoffs(Waist circumference (WC)≥94 cm for male, WC≥80 cm for female) in addition to any two of the following four parameters: (Triglycerides level: ≥150 mg/dl (1.7 mmol/l) or history of treatment for TG abnormality, HDL cholesterol level: <40 mg/dl (1.03 mmol/l) in males and <50 mg/dl (1.29 mmol/l) in females or history of treatment for HDL cholesterol abnormality, high blood pressure: systolic BP ≥130 mm Hg or diastolic BP≥85mm Hg or on treatment for previously diagnosed hypertension and high FPG: ≥100 mg/dl or previously diagnosed type 2 Diabetes mellitus. In conclusion, our study showed a significant correlation between overt hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome. It also revealed that a TSH level over 2.5 uIU‎/ml significantly increases the risk of metabolic syndrome.