Alterations in lipid profile in old age hypothyroid patients

Abstract

The current investigation was designed to study the changes of lipid profile in hypothyroid patients in local population and t o investigate the importance of thyroid profile in oId age dyslipidemia patients. Ninety five newly diagnosed untreated h ypothyroid patients (aged 4 9.21±12.47 years, BMI 3 0.36±5.8, 74 females and 21 males) were identified from thyroid OPD of INMOL, PGMI, Lahore. Patients were compared with 78 control subjects (aged 48.80±11.00 years, BMI 30.51±04.70, 54 females and 24 males) matched by age and body mass index (BMI). Serum TSH, FT4, FT3, Triacylglcerol (TAG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured. Significantly increased levels of TC and LDL-C in overt hypothyroid patients were observed. No significant differences were found in HDL-C and TAG in overt hypothyroid patients as compared to the control group. Elevated levels of TC and LDL-C in hypothyroid patients represent an increased risk of ischaemic heart disease that requires therapeutic intervention. The deranged lipid profiles in hypothyroidism can not be corrected without the treatment for hypothyroidism in these patients. Therefore, all older patients referred for diagnosis and treatment of dyslipidemia should also be screened for hypothyroidism.