OBJECTIVE: Subclinical hypothyroidism affects 5-15% of the general population, and is associated with increased morbidity from cardiovascular disease. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a parameter of arterial stiffening and a good independent predictor for the presence of coronary artery disease. This study was performed to assess whether subclinical hypothyroidism might cause enhanced baPWV.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: BaPWV was examined in subclinical hypothyroid patients (n = 50) and normal control subjects (n = 50).

RESULTS: Diastolic blood pressure (DBP), a main risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and baPWV were both significantly higher in subclinical hypothyroid patients than in normal subjects. BaPWV was significantly positively correlated with age and systolic, diastolic and pulse pressure, and significantly negatively correlated with pulse rate in both subclinical hypothyroid patients and normal subjects. In contrast, there was no significant correlation of BaPWV with FT₃, FT₄ and TSH, total, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, and the pre-ejection time/ejection time ratio. In a comparison of individual values of baPWV and DBP and in a comparison of regression slopes in two groups revealed that baPWV values increase to a larger extent than the increase in DBP in subclinical hypothyroid patients. In both groups, stepwise regression analysis showed a significant and independent association of DBP with baPWV.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated significant increases of baPWV and DBP in subclinical hypothyroid patients. Furthermore, the results suggest that increased DBP might be one of the main factors responsible for increased arterial stiffening in subclinical hypothyroid patients.