HYPOTHYROIDISM;

AS A CAUSE OF DYSLIPIDEMIA IN YOUNG PREDISPOSES TO INCREASED RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number one cause of death globally:
more people die annually from CVDs than from any other cause. An estimated 17.5 million
people died from CVDs in 2012, representing 31% of all global deaths. Although CVDs are
uncommon entity in young patients, it constitutes significant health problem due to its
dyslipidemia cases and devastating effects on active life style of young patients, it is therefore
important to identify diseases in young that are associated with or a cause of dyslipidemia1.
Hypothyroidism is an important cause of dyslipidemia in young that can significantly increase
the risk of CVDs2. Objectives: This study is designed “to determine frequency of dyslipidemia
in young hypothyroid patients”. Place and duration of Study: Study conducted at Medical
OPD JPMC, Karachi (outpatient) in six months duration from 25th May 2009 to 24th November
2009. Patients and Methods: Study is performed on 100 newly diagnosed cases of primary
hypothyroidism between ages 25 to 55 years, non-smokers, having no previous history of
Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) or family history of premature CVD, diabetes mellitus (DM), hepatic
or renal disease, not on drugs which could alter serum lipids. Selected case undergone 14
hours fasting lipid profile check. Results: Out of 100 hypothyroid cases, 91% had dyslipidemia
which was directly proportional to severity of hypothyroidism. Out of 100 hypothyroid cases,
95 (95%) were of young age group i-e from 25-49 years, and all of them were dyslipidemic,
while 05 (5%) hypothyroid patients were of age group more than 50 years and none of them
had dyslipidemia. (0.00%) and this distribution of dyslipidemic in young hypothyroid patients
is statistically significant (p value 0.031) Conclusion: Hypothyroidism is associated with high
frequency of dyslipidemia in young patients which significantly predisposes them to risks of
CVDs.