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. 2010 Jan;128(1):18-23.
doi: 10.1590/s1516-31802010000100005.

Frequency of subclinical thyroid dysfunction and risk factors for cardiovascular disease among women at a workplace

Rodrigo Diaz-Olmos  1 , Antônio-Carlos Nogueira, Daniele Queirós Fucciolo Penalva, Paulo Andrade Lotufo, Isabela Martins Benseñor
Affiliations

Frequency of subclinical thyroid dysfunction and risk factors for cardiovascular disease among women at a workplace

Rodrigo Diaz-Olmos et al. Sao Paulo Med J. 2010 Jan.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Context and objective: Subclinical thyroid dysfunction is very common in clinical practice and there is some evidence that it may be associated with cardiovascular disease. The aim here was to evaluate the frequencies of subclinical thyroid disease and risk factors for cardiovascular disease among women at a workplace, and to evaluate the association between subclinical thyroid disease and cardiovascular risk factors among them.

Design and setting: Cross-sectional study on 314 women aged 40 years or over who were working at Universidade de São Paulo (USP).

Methods: All the women answered a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the Rose angina questionnaire. Anthropometric variables were measured and blood samples were analyzed for blood glucose, total cholesterol and fractions, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (free-T4) and anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies (anti-TPO).

Results: The frequencies of subclinical hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism were, respectively, 7.3% and 5.1%. Women with subclinical thyroid disease presented higher levels of anti-TPO than did women with normal thyroid function (P = 0.01). There were no differences in sociodemographic factors and cardiovascular risk factors according to thyroid function status, except for greater sedentarism among the women with subclinical hypothyroidism. Restricting the comparison to women with subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH > 10 mIU/l) did not change the results.

Conclusion: In this sample of women, there was no association between poor profile of cardiovascular risk factors and presence of subclinical thyroid disease that would justify screening at the workplace.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO:: A doença tireoidiana subclínica é muito frequente na prática clínica e há evidências que sugerem associação com doença cardiovascular. O objetivo foi estabelecer a frequência das doenças subclínicas da tireóide e de fatores de risco para doença cardiovascular em mulheres no local de trabalho, bem como avaliar a associação da doença tireoidiana subclínica com fatores de risco para doença cardiovascular nessas mulheres.

TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL:: Estudo transversal em 314 mulheres com 40 ou mais anos de idade que trabalham na Universidade de São Paulo.

MÉTODOS:: Todas as mulheres responderam a questionário sobre características sócio-demográficas, fatores de risco para doença cardiovascular, questionário de angina de Rose, e foram realizadas medidas antropométricas e colhido sangue para dosagem de glicemia, colesterol total e frações, proteína C ultra-sensível, hormônio tireotrópico (TSH), tiroxina-livre (TS-livre) e anticorpos anti-tireoperoxidase.

RESULTADOS:: As frequências de hipotireoidismo subclínico e de hipertireoidismo subclínico foram respectivamente de 7,3% e 5,1%. Os níveis de anticorpos antiperoxidase foram mais elevados nas mulheres com doença subclínica da tireoide comparadas às mulheres com função tireoidiana normal (P = 0,01). Não houve nenhuma diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os fatores sociodemográficos e de risco para doença cardiovascular entre os grupos exceto pela maior presença de sedentarismo entre as mulheres com hipotireoidismo subclínico. Restringir a comparação somente às mulheres com hipotireoidismo subclínico (TSH > 10 mIU/l) não mudou os resultados.

CONCLUSÃO:: Nesta amostra de mulheres, não houve nenhuma associação entre um perfil inadequado dos fatores de risco para doença cardiovascular e a presença de doença subclínica da tireóide que justificasse o rastreamento no local de trabalho.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: Not declared

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