Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism is often associated with increased risk of heart complications and various biochemical abnormalities.

Objectives: The present study was aimed to determine lipid abnormalities in the subclinical hypothyroidism patients.

Methods: The 1-year case–control study included 25 patients diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism and 25 euthyroid controls. Patients underwent thyroid and lipid profiling, evaluation of fasting blood sugar levels, complete blood count, and levels of apolipoprotein A and B. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test and unpaired t-test. P< 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results: Female preponderance was observed with mean age of 20.46 ± 1.68 and 37.25 ±13.73 years in euthyroid and subclinical hypothyroid group, respectively (P< 0.001). Mean body mass index of the euthyroid and subclinical hypothyroid groups was 21.58 ± 2.8 kg/m² and 20.46 ± 1.68 kg/m², respectively (P = 0.033). Thyroid-stimulating hormone (7.89 ± 2.51 vs. 2.07 ± 1.01 µIU/ml; P < 0.001), serum cholesterol (168.08 ± 39.35 vs. 143.68 ± 38.15 mg/dL; P = 0.031) and triglyceride (162.02 ± 71.87 vs 121.48 ± 34.42 mg/dL; P< 0.001) levels were elevated in subclinical hypothyroid group when compared to euthyroid group. In the subclinical hypothyroid group, mean apolipoprotein A levels varied (117.04 ± 19.27 vs 96.48 ± 7.38 mg/dL; P < 0.001); however, apolipoprotein B levels were unaltered.

Conclusion: Alterations in lipid levels were observed in subclinical hypothyroidism patients which could be further established in future studies by the exploration of factors such as detection of autoimmune disorders in larger sample size.

Keywords: Serum cholesterol; Subclinical hypothyroidism; Triglycerides, Thyroid stimulating hormone.

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Naveen Angadi

Department of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College,

Belgaum 590010, Karnataka, India

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