Association Between Thyroid Dysfunction and Lipid Profiles Differs According to Age and Sex: Results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online July, 2018
Association Between Thyroid Dysfunction and Lipid Profiles Differs According to Age and Sex: Results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Lipid profiles of men and women change differently during the aging process. Guidelines recommend that dyslipidemia patients should consider screening for hypothyroidism without consideration of age or sex.
Methods:
Data from the sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. A total of 4275 participants without thyroid disease and without a past history of dyslipidemia or dyslipidemia medication were evaluated. The association between thyroid dysfunction and lipid profiles (total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDLC], and triglycerides [TG]) was analyzed by age and sex.
Results:
The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was significantly different according to TC and LDLC levels (p = 0.003 and p = 0.021, respectively). In women, the weighted prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was significantly different according to levels of TC, LDLC, and TG (p = 0.007, p = 0.016, and p = 0.044, respectively). However, in men, no association was found in any of the lipid profiles. Female participants were divided into two groups using a cutoff age of 55 years. In younger women, the weighted prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was different according to the levels of TC, LDLC, and TG (p = 0.013, p = 0.007, and p = 0.007, respectively). However, in older women, no association was found for any of the lipid profiles.
Conclusions:
The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was significantly different according to lipid profiles, and this association differed by age and sex.
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