Cardiology and Medical Interventions

Beta stiffness index in euthyroid subjects: The role of free thyroxin

 

Arterial stiffness is an important prognostic factor for cardiovascular mortality in patients with blood hypertension and

in the general population. Recent studies showed that disorders of thyroid gland are associated with an increased aortic

stiffness, although results are not univocal. The effects of free thyroxin on vascular physiology at common carotid level are less

studied. Our study aimed to test the association between free thyroxin and thyrotropin and beta stiffness index at common

carotid level in a cohort of euthyroid patients. This study included 5385 euthyroid patients (2964 women) aged 14-102 years.

Stepwise regression analysis was used to test the association between thyroid hormones and beta stiffness index, the latter

as dependent variable. We found that beta stiffness index had a direct and positive association with free thyroxin level, after

adjusting for the confounder’s age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, triglycerides and smoke. Our results

suggested that higher level of free thyroxin, even in euthyroid subjects, could have a detrimental effect of arterial stiffness at

common carotid level. Further longitudinal studies are required to understand the meaning of this association.