Association of thyrotropin with arterial pulse wave velocity in young adults: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Abstract

Objective. Limited data are available regarding the relationship of thyrotropin (TSH) and arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) at population level. Therefore, we conducted the present study to determine whether TSH is related to PWV assessed in young adulthood. Methods. The study population consisted of 1598 Finnish white young adults (aged 30–45 years, 47.4% males) who had TSH, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and PWV measured in 2007. PWV measurements were performed using a whole-body impedance cardiography device. Results. In bivariate association analyses, TSH level was significantly associated with body mass index (BMI), smoking, diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride and insulin levels (p < 0.001). In multivariable regression model, TSH (β = 0.055, p = 0.015) was associated with PWV when adjusted with age (β = 0.295, p < 0.001) and sex (β = 0.345, p < 0.001). The association of TSH with PWV was however diluted to non-significant after further adjustment with traditional risk factors (β = 0.027, p = 0.218 for TSH). Conclusion. Serum TSH was associated with PWV on population level when adjusted with age and sex. This association was diluted when cardiovascular risk factors were added in the model, suggesting that the association of thyroid hormone on arterial stiffening is not independent of changes in the traditional risk factor levels.

Key Words::

• Epidemiology
• arterial stiffness
• risk factors
• thyroid function

Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the Academy of Finland (grants 77841, 117832, 201888, 121584, and 126925); the Social Insurance Institution of Finland; the Turku University Foundation; the Medical Research Fund of Kuopio University Hospital; the Medical Research Fund of Tampere University Hospital; the Turku University Hospital Medical Fund; the Emil Aaltonen Foundation (Te.Le.); the Juho Vainio Foundation; the Finnish Foundation of Cardiovascular Research; the Finnish Cultural Foundation; and The Tampere Tuberculosis Foundation. The expert technical assistance in data management and statistical analyses by Irina Lisinen and Ville Aalto are gratefully acknowledged.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.