The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among South Indian women with Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome and thyroid dysfunction are independent risk factors of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and the coexistence of the two will substantially increase cardiovascular risk. In the present study, our aim was to investigate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in women with metabolic syndrome in a South Indian population. This study was carried out in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Chennai city, South India. The study protocol was approved by the institutional ethics committee and informed consent was obtained from all the participants at the start of study. Seventy six females with metabolic syndrome (NCEP -ATP III criteria) were included in the study. After obtaining the demographic data, fasting blood samples were obtained from the subjects and glucose, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipo-protein (LDL) and triglyceride levels were estimated. The serum thyroid stimulating hormone and free thyroxine levels were also measured. Of the seventy six patients 53% had subclinical hypothyroidism, 25% had overt hypothyroidism and 22% were euthyroid. Overt hyperthyroidism was not present in any of the patients. The mean age of the study group was 52.68, with a standard deviation of 10.20. Women in the 40-60 year age group had a higher incidence of thyroid dysfunction as compared to those in the other age groups. Our study indicates the higher prevalence of thyroid hypofunction in South Indian women with metabolic syndrome and thus it necessitates the need for evaluating the thyroid status in women with metabolic syndrome.