The clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and coronary artery disease

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism complicated with coronary artery disease. Methods A total of 137 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism were consecutively enrolled and underwent coronary angiography due to angina-like chest pain. Patients were divided into two groups: subclinical hypothyroidism with coronary artery disease(n=100)and subclinical hypothyroidism without coronary artery disease(n=37). Results Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and coronary artery disease had higher percentage of hypertension and smoking(66.00% vs 40.54%, 40.00% vs 5.41%, P<0.05). In addition, when compared to patients without coronary artery disease, patients with coronary artery disease had higher levels of lipoprotein(a), hypersensitive C-reactive protein, higher erythrocyte sedimentation rates, and fibrinogen(all P<0.05). However, the traditional risk factors such as age, male sex, obesity, and diabetes mellitus showed no statistical differences between the two groups. Single-factor logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension, smoking, hypersensitive C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen were positively and significantly associated with coronary artery disease in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Multiple-factor logistic regression analysis indicated that hypertension and smoking were independently associated with coronary artery disease in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism(OR=3.300, 95%CI 1.418-7.679, P=0.006; OR=2.917, 95%CI 1.089-7.813, P=0.033). Conclusion Hypertension and smoking were independent risk factors for coronary artery disease in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Lipoprotein(a), inflammation, and coagulation mechanism may be correlated with coronary artery disease in subclinical hypothyroidism. (Chin J Endocrinol Metab, 2016, 32: 754-758) Key words: Subclinical hypothyroidism; Coronary artery disease; Lipoprotein(a); Risk factor