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Subclinical Hypothyroidism and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Mortality

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Rodondi, Nicolas, den Elzen, Wendy P. J., Bauer, Douglas C., Cappola, Anne R., Razvi, Salman, Walsh, John P., Åsvold, Bjørn O., Iervasi, Giorgio +14 more·2010·JAMA

Abstract

CONTEXT: Data regarding the association between subclinical hypothyroidism and cardiovascular disease outcomes are conflicting among large prospective cohort studies. This might reflect differences in participants' age, sex, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, or preexisting cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE: To assess the risks of coronary heart disease (CHD) and total mortality for adults with subclinical hypothyroidism. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION: The databases of MEDLINE and EMBASE (1950 to May 31, 2010) were searched without language restrictions for prospective cohort studies with baseline thyroid function and subsequent CHD events, CHD mortality, and total mortality. The reference lists of retrieved articles also were searched. DATA EXTRACTION: Individual data on 55,287 participants with 542,494 person-years of follow-up between 1972 and 2007 were supplied from 11 prospective cohorts in the United States, Europe, Australia, Brazil, and Japan. The risk of CHD events was examined in 25,977 participants from 7 cohorts with available data. Euthyroidism was defined as a TSH level of 0.50 to 4.49 mIU/L. Subclinical hypothyroidism was defined as a TSH level of 4.5 to 19.9 mIU/L with normal thyroxine concentrations. RESULTS: Among 55,287 adults, 3450 had subclinical hypothyroidism (6.2%) and 51,837 had euthyroidism. During follow-up, 9664 participants died (2168 of CHD), and 4470 participants had CHD events (among 7 studies). The risk of CHD events and CHD mortality increased with higher TSH concentrations. In age- and sex-adjusted analyses, the hazard ratio (HR) for CHD events was 1.00 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86-1.18) for a TSH level of 4.5 to 6.9 mIU/L (20.3 vs 20.3/1000 person-years for participants with euthyroidism), 1.17 (95% CI, 0.96-1.43) for a TSH level of 7.0 to 9.9 mIU/L (23.8/1000 person-years), and 1.89 (95% CI, 1.28-2.80) for a TSH level of 10 to 19.9 mIU/L (n = 70 events/235; 38.4/1000 person-years; P <.001 for trend). The corresponding HRs for CHD mortality were 1.09 (95% CI, 0.91-1.30; 5.3 vs 4.9/1000 person-years for participants with euthyroidism), 1.42 (95% CI, 1.03-1.95; 6.9/1000 person-years), and 1.58 (95% CI, 1.10-2.27, n = 28 deaths/333; 7.7/1000 person-years; P = .005 for trend). Total mortality was not increased among participants with subclinical hypothyroidism. Results were similar after further adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Risks did not significantly differ by age, sex, or preexisting cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with an increased risk of CHD events and CHD mortality in those with higher TSH levels, particularly in those with a TSH concentration of 10 mIU/L or greater.

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  • A recent meta-analysis showed significantly increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity primarily in individuals with TSH > 10 mIU/L, with potential effects at TSH > 7 mIU/L.

    “a recent metaanalysis showed that significantly increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity was primarily observed in individuals with TSH levels > 10mIU/L, with potential effects of TSH values > 7mIU/L (52).”
  • Recent individual patient meta-analysis by the Thyroid Studies Collaboration did not find higher risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality among adults with subclinical hypothyroidism compared with those with euthyroidism.

    “Recent individual patient meta-analysis by the Thyroid Studies Collaboration8,9,10,11 did not find higher risk of CVD and all-cause mortality among adults with subclinical hypothyroidism compared with those with euthyroidism”
  • A previous meta-analysis reported that subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with higher CVD risk.

    “A previous meta-analysis8 reported that subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with higher CVD risk, and thus treatment with levothyroxine is recommended when serum TSH concentrations reach 10 mIU/L or greater.4,31”
  • Epidemiological studies have linked subclinical hypothyroidism to coronary heart disease in people younger than 65 years or with TSH above 10 mU/l.

    “Although epidemiological studies have shown an association between subclinical hypothyroidism and coronary heart disease in younger people (<65 years) 16 or those with high TSH (>10 mU/l), 17”
  • Elevated serum TSH is associated with adverse cardiac outcomes, including myocardial infarction, heart failure, and mortality.

    “Similarly, several studies have found an association of elevated serum TSH with adverse cardiac outcomes, including myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure, and mortality (8, 10, 21–24).”

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Research works printed but not linked: 10

  1. [12]Völzke H Schwahn C Wallaschofski H Dörr M Review: the association of thyroid dysfunction with all-cause and circulatory mortality J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007 92 7 2421 2429 17473067
  2. [14]Simmonds MC Higgins JP Stewart LA Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized trials Clin Trials 2005 2 3 209 217 16279144
  3. [19]Hollowell JG Staehling NW Flanders WD Serum TSH, T(4), and thyroid antibodies in the United States population (1988 to 1994) J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002 87 2 489 499 11836274
  4. [24]Riley RD Simmonds MC Look MP Evidence synthesis combining individual patient data and aggregate data J Clin Epidemiol 2007 60 5 431 439 17419953
  5. [26]Parle JV Maisonneuve P Sheppard MC Prediction of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in elderly people from one low serum thyrotropin result Lancet 2001 358 9285 861 865 11567699
  6. [32]Boekholdt SM Titan SM Wiersinga WM Initial thyroid status and cardiovascular risk factors Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2010 72 3 404 410 19486022
  7. [33]Asvold BO Bjøro T Nilsen TI Gunnell D Vatten LJ Thyrotropin levels and risk of fatal coronary heart disease Arch Intern Med 2008 168 8 855 860 18443261
  8. [36]Ladenson PW Cardiovascular consequences of subclinical thyroid dysfunction Ann Intern Med 2008 148 11 880 881 18519934
  9. [40]Monzani F Caraccio N Kozàkowà M Effect of levothyroxine replacement on lipid profile and intima-media thickness in subclinical hypothyroidism J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004 89 5 2099 2106 15126526
  10. [41]Vanderpump MP Tunbridge WM French JM The incidence of thyroid disorders in the community Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1995 43 1 55 68 7641412

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Authors
Rodondi, N., den Elzen, W. P. J., Bauer, D. C., Cappola, A. R., Razvi, S., Walsh, J. P., Åsvold, B. O., Iervasi, G., Imaizumi, M., Collet, T.-H., Bremner, A., Maisonneuve, P., Sgarbi, J. A., Khaw, K.-T., Vanderpump, M. P. J., Newman, A. B., Cornuz, J., Franklyn, J. A., Westendorp, R. G. J., Vittinghoff, E., Gussekloo, J., & Thyroid Studies Collaboration, F. T.
Affiliations
  • University of Lausanne (CH)
  • The University of Western Australia (AU)
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
  • Leiden University (NL)
Venue
JAMA
Published
2010-09-22
Volume
304
Issue
12
Pages
1365
ISSN
  • 0002-9955 (ISSN-L)
  • 0098-7484
OpenAlex
W2128219988
Cited by
1,216
References
55
Citations by year
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FWCI
43.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • JAMA (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion)
  • IRIS (submittedVersion)
  • UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion)
  • University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
  • UNIFESP Institutional Repository (Universidade Federal de São Paulo) (submittedVersion)
  • SERVAL (Université de Lausanne) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Energy
  • American Heart Association (N01-HC-)
  • University of Pittsburgh (P30-AG024827)
  • Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet
  • Cancer Research UK
  • Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (911-03-016)
  • National Institutes of Health (N01-AG-6-2103, n01hc085082-026, n01hc085081-021, n01ag062101-007, n01hc045133-001, n01hc085079-024, n01hc015103-009, n01hc085084-005, n01cn015103-001, n01ag062103-006, n01hc085085-011, n01hc085083-027, n01hc085080-026, N01‐AG‐6‐2106, n01ag062106-007, n01hc085086-022, N01-AG-6-2101, n01hc075150-004, n01hc035129-010, n01hc055222-001, N01HC85086, AG 20098, N01HC85079, AG-023629, N01-HC-75150, N01HC-35129, N01HC-15103, N01-HC-45133, HL080295)
  • Medical Research Council
  • Norwegian Institute of Public Health
  • National Institute on Aging (N01‐AG‐6–2101, N01-AG-6-2101, N01-AG-6-2103, and N01-AG-6-2106, N01HC85079, N01 HC‐15103, AG 20098, R56AG023629, AG-15928, R01AG032317, N01HC55222, N01‐HC‐35129, N01-HC-75150, R01AG020098, AG023629, N01 AG062106, AG027058, N01AG62106, HL080295, 024827, N01‐HC‐45133, N01‐HC‐85086, R01AG023629, R01AG015928, N01-AG-62103, N01 AG062103, R01AG027058, AG-032317, P30AG024827, N01 AG062101)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (N01-HC-85081, N01 HC085086, AG-023629, N01HC-85083, AG-027058, HC-85086, N01HC15103, N01 HC085079, HC85079, N01 HC085083, N01HC85082, N01HC‐75150, N01 HC85086, AG-20098, N01 HC085080, N01 HC035129, HL-075366, N01HC85080, N01-HC, HC-35129, N01AG62101, N01 HC015103, N01HC80007, N01 HC55222, R01HL075366, N01 HC085085, HC-45133, N01‐HC‐45133, N01AG62106, N01HC085082, U01HL080295, N01 HC055222, R01 HL, N01AG62103, AG-15928, N01 HC085081, N01-HC-85079 through N01-HC-85086, HL080295, N01 HC075150, HC-15103, N01 HC085084, N01 HC045133, N01-HC85079, N01HC35129)
  • National Cancer Institute (N01 CN015103)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (N01-AG-6-2106, N01-AG-6-2103, AG023629, AG‐15928, AG‐027058, AG‐20098, N01-HC-75150, HL080295, N01-HC-35129, N01-HC-45133, N01-AG-6-2101, N01-HC-85086, N01 HC-55222, N01HC85079, N01-HC-15103)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Thyroid Disorders and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
Keywords
subclinical hypothyroidism, coronary artery disease, cardiovascular mortality, thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroid function, cardiovascular risk, euthyroidism, prospective cohort, cardiovascular outcomes, sex differences, age differences, cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular screening, cardiovascular disease prevention
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Coronary Disease, Female, Humans, Hypothyroidism, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Prospective Studies, Risk, Thyrotropin, Young Adult

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