Serum free thyroxine levels are positively associated with arterial stiffness in the SardiNIA study

Delitala,Alessandro P;Orru, Marco;FILIGHEDDU, Fabiana;Pilia, Maria Grazia;Delitala, Giuseppe;GANAU, Antonello;Saba, Pier Sergio;Decandia, Federica;Scuteri, Angelo;Marongiu, Michele;Lakatta, Edward G;Strait, James;CUCCA, Francesco

2015-01-01

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Thyroid dysfunction may accelerate atherosclerosis. Aortic pulse wave velocity is an early index of arterial stiffness and an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and might therefore be linked to changes in thyroid activity. We investigated the relationship between thyroid function and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, as an index of arterial stiffness. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study. PATIENTS: Participants from the SardiNIA study. Those being treated for thyroid diseases were excluded, yielding a sample of 5,875 ages 14-102. MEASUREMENTS: Clinical parameters, blood tests including serum TSH and serum FT4, and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity were measured. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounders, a direct and linear association between FT4 and pulse wave velocity was shown (multiple regression analysis). The model containing age, mean blood pressure, body mass index, heart rate, FT4, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia accounted for 55% of the variation in pulse wave velocity. CONCLUSIONS: Like several other known risk factors, serum FT4 levels are associated with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, suggesting that high FT4 levels have a detrimental effect on aortic stiffness and may contribute to aging process of the vascular system. This finding may help to understand the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease and contribute to improve prevention therapy.