Hypothyroidism Linked to Increased Risk of Coronary Heart Disease

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted by a team of scientists at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University has shed new light on the relationship between hypothyroidism and coronary heart disease. The study, published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, utilized Mendelian randomization to examine the causal effect of hypothyroidism on the development of CHD and the mediating role of lipid profiles. The results found that genetically predicted hypothyroidism increased the risk of CHD by 7.8% and was inversely associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and apolipoprotein A-I levels.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that genetically predicted hypothyroidism increased the risk of coronary heart disease by 7.8% (odds ratio = 1.078, 95% confidence interval = 1.026-1.134, p = .003).
  • The risk of CHD was also inversely associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (b = -0.013, 95% CI -0.022-0.004, p = .005) and apolipoprotein A-I levels (b = -0.014, 95% CI -0.025-0.004, p = .008).
  • The study highlights the importance of monitoring lipid levels in hypothyroid patients and calls for further research to explore these relationships and their implications for prevention and treatment strategies.
  • The research was conducted by a team of scientists led by Siyu Long from the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.
  • The study used genome-wide association study data from 500,000 participants of European ancestry from FinnGen and UK Biobank.
  • The study utilized bidirectional Mendelian randomization to confirm causality and sensitivity analyses to validate the findings.

Statistics:

  • 7.8% increase in the risk of coronary heart disease associated with genetically predicted hypothyroidism (odds ratio = 1.078, 95% confidence interval = 1.026-1.134, p = .003).
  • -0.013 (95% CI -0.022-0.004, p = .005) inverse association between genetically predicted hypothyroidism and HDL-C levels.
  • -0.014 (95% CI -0.025-0.004, p = .008) inverse association between genetically predicted hypothyroidism and apolipoprotein A-I levels.
  • 500,000 participants of European ancestry from FinnGen and UK Biobank used in the genome-wide association study data.
  • 9(9) issue of the Journal of the Endocrine Society where the study was published.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Research Results from First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University Update Understanding of Heart Disease (From Hypothyroidism to Coronary Heart Disease: Unraveling the Lipid Profile Link: A Mendelian Randomization Study). Cardiovascular Week. August 25, 2025; p 158.
  • Siyu Long, Jinjian Li, Boyuan Liu, Shubin Hong, Shuang Yu, Yanbing Li, Dide Wu, and Haipeng Xiao. From Hypothyroidism to Coronary Heart Disease: Unraveling the Lipid Profile Link: A Mendelian Randomization Study. Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2025;9(9).