Dyslipidemia and relationship with thyroid disease in farmers in the Colombian coffee growing area

Abstract

Introduction: The free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodo thyronine (FT3) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) are recognized as regulators for lipid synthesis, degradation and mobilization.

Objective: was to find a relationship between dyslipidemia and thyroid disease in coffee farmer.

Methods. This was a cross-sectional study in 819 individuals. TSH, FT4, total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were measured.

Results. General population showed normal TC and LDL-C, low HDL-C and high TG. Dyslipidemia prevalence was: high TC 31.9%, HDL-C <40 mg/dl 57.9%. High LDL-C 24.3% and TG ?200 mg/dl, 26%. TSH frequency ? 4.6 mIU/L was 8.1%. The prevalence of overt hypothyroidism was 1.2% and 6.7% for subclinical hypothyroidism. The prevalence of high TC in subjects with overt hypothyroidism and normal subjects was 50.0% and 31.6% respectively. While for subclinical hypothyroidism was 43.6% and 31.0% p: 0.04 for high TC; 40.0% and 23.2% p: 0.006 for high LDL-C. Significant relationship between TSH ?4.6 mIU/L with high TC (OR 1.9 p 0.01) and high LDL-C (OR 2.5 p 0.001) was found; high LDL-C frequency was 2.2 times higher in people with subclinical hypothyroidism than in people with normal levels of TSH.

Conclusions. In farmers, due to their particular socioeconomic conditions and access to the health system, it is important to design biomarkers screening programs that detecting early changes in the thyroid hormones, TSH and lipid profile, to carry out interventions of secondary prevention that contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular events