The association of thyroid immunity with blood pressure and body mass index in primary care patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association of thyroid immunity with cardiovascular symptoms and body mass index (BMI).


METHODS
Four hundred and sixty-five primary care patients underwent ultrasound evaluation of the thyroid gland, with hypo-echoic thyroid pattern indicating autoimmune involvement. BMI and blood pressure (BP) were the main outcomes.


RESULTS
Men and women with hypo-echoic thyroid had higher BMI and higher BP in comparison to patients with normo-echoic thyroid. Among women with hypo-echoic thyroid, only those who were premenopausal had higher BMI and higher BP in comparison to women with normo-echoic thyroid.


CONCLUSIONS
Thyroid immunity is related to higher BMI and higher BP in men and women, especially in premenopausal women.
Bunevicius
Adomas
A
Institute of Psychophysiology and Rehabilitation, Kaunas University of Medicine, Palanga, Lithuania. a.bunevicius@yahoo.com
Peceliuniene
Jurate
J
Mickuviene
Narseta
N
Girdler
Susan S
SS
Bunevicius
Robertas
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000276:immunology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D014463:Ultrasonography