Sex differences in subclinical hypothyroidism and associations with metabolic risk factors: a health examination-based study in mainland China

Abstract

Background: The association between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and metabolic risk factors in the general health examination-based population has been widely explored. However, the results have been inconclusive. Additionally, the sex differences in the prevalence of SCH and the association of SCH with metabolic risk factors remain unknown. Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional study using data from health examination-based participants between June 2016 and April 2018 in our health examination centre. Sex differences SCH and the association of SCH with metabolic risk factors were explored. Results: The total prevalence of SCH was 3.40% among the 5319 included participants, and 4.90% among the 2306 female participants, which was much higher than the prevalence of 2.26% among the 3013 male participants (p < 0.05). In males, the difference between participants younger than 60 and aged 60 or older was not significant (p = 0.104); while in females, the difference between participants younger than 40 and participants aged 40 or older was statistically significant (p = 0.023). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age (OR = 0.568, p = 0.004), body-mass index (BMI) (OR = 5.029, p < 0.001) and systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) (OR = 5.243, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of SCH in females, but no metabolic risk factor was significantly associated with SCH in males. Further analysis revealed that the prevalence was much higher in participants with one or two metabolic risk factors than in those with no above metabolic risk factors regardless of age (p < 0.01).

Association Between Dietary Onion Intake and Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Adults: A Population-Based Study From an Lodine-Replete Area

“…The present study shows that the prevalence of SCH is 4.63%, which is similar to the previously reported 3%-15% among populations 26 . This study also showed that SCH occurs more frequently in women (2.56% in men and 7.18% in women), it is consistent with previous study 27 .…”

Impact of thyroid disorders on the incidence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in Germany

“…Recent evidence indicated that these metabolic substrates may share some pathogenic factors with hypothyroidism 7 . In line, low concentrations of thyroid hormones have been linked to new onsets of metabolic syndrome and obesity 8 Summarise the established knowledge on this subject NAFLD and hypothyroidism share some pathogenic factors. Recent population‐based evidence showed conflicting results on the potential association between hypothyroidism and NAFLD. What are the significant and/or new findings of this study?…”

The Association between BMI, Smoking, Drinking and Thyroid Disease: A Cross-sectional Study in Wuhan, China

“…Our ndings may be due to a small sample size, but the association between gender, obesity and thyroid disease may be complex. A previous study, also from Tianjin, China, showed that BMI was not associated with the incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism in women, but played a protective role in men [32], which contradicted the results of many previous studies [33][34][35]. Estrogen may have a unique pathological effect on thyroid gland so that women are susceptible to thyroid disease [36], but it also has a different effect on the distribution and metabolism of human fat than that of men.…”