Lack of association between hypertension and hypothyroidism in postmenopausal women seen in a primary care setting.
BACKGROUND
Several studies undertaken in hospital-based specialty clinics have reported an association between hypertension and hypothyroidism. This work examines the association between these two common disorders in postmenopausal women seen within a primary care office setting.


METHODS
Seven hundred seven postmenopausal women aged 50 years and older were studied using a cross-sectional design. Data on thyroid status, hypertension and risk factors, and patient demographics were collected from the office medical record.


RESULTS
Overall, 45.4 percent of the population studied had hypertension and 10.9 percent had hypothyroidism. Compared with normotensive women, hypertensive women were significantly older (66.4 years versus 63.0 years, P < 0.0001) and had a higher body mass index (29.2 kg/m2 versus 26.2 kg/m2, P < 0.0001). Hypertension was significantly associated with diabetes mellitus and the use of NSAIDS (odds ratios [ORs] = 1.77 and 2.63, respectively). We did not find a significant association between hypertension and hypothyroidism (OR 1.04, 95 percent confidence interval 0.64 to 1.76


CONCLUSIONS
In this population of postmenopausal women we did not find hypertension to be associated with hypothyroidism.
Bergus
G R
GR
Department of Family Practice, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Randall
C
C
Van Peursem
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017698:Postmenopause
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal