title: The association of thyroid immunity with blood pressure and body mass index in primary care patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychophysiology and Rehabilitation, Kaunas University of Medicine, Palanga, Lithuania. a.bunevicius@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Adomas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bunevicius
authors.forename: Jurate
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peceliuniene
authors.forename: Narseta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mickuviene
authors.forename: Susan S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Girdler
authors.forename: Robertas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bunevicius
mesh_terms: 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