To examine differences between hypothyroid patients and healthy volunteers in 24-h ambulatory blood pressure parameters.
The study population consisted of 100 individuals who were recently diagnosed for hypothyroidism. These patients had never been treated before with antihypertensive treatment or received drugs for hypothyroidism. All participants underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The control group consisted of 100 healthy volunteers matched one to one for gender and age with the hypothyroid participants.
Clinic systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly higher in patients with hypothyroidism compared with volunteers. The mean 24-h systolic blood pressure and 24-h pulse pressure were significantly higher in patients with hypothyroidism compared with volunteers. The 24-h systolic blood pressure variability was also significantly higher in patients with hypothyroidism. Fasting serum cholesterol tended to be higher in patients with hypothyroidism compared with volunteers but the difference was not statistically significant, while fasting serum triglycerides were significantly higher. Body mass index was also significantly higher in patients with hypothyroidism.
These findings indicate that hypothyroidism may be an important predictor of higher mean 24-h systolic blood pressure, 24-h pulse pressure and 24-h systolic blood pressure variability, parameters of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring that have been previously associated with higher cardiovascular target organ damage.
aDepartment of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodestrial University, Athens
b3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki
cDepartment of Paediatrics, National and Kapodestrial University, Athens, Greece
dUniversity of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Received 7 August, 2006
Revised 18 December, 2006
Accepted 3 January, 2007
Correspondence and requests for reprints to Ass. Prof. Vasilios Kotsis, MD, PhD, 4 Viotias Str., Byron, 16232, Athens, Greece Tel: +30 6974748860; fax: +30 2107613600; e-mail: bkotsis@med.uoa.gr
