Study of Thyroid Function Tests in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of clinical and metabolic abnormalities
including abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and impaired fasting glucose or
impaired glucose tolerance. Metabolic syndrome and thyroid dysfunction are independent
risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Aims and objectives: To study the prevalence,
symptomatology of thyroid dysfunction and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) findings
of thyroid in the patients having metabolic syndrome. Material and methods: The study was
carried out in 60 cases of metabolic syndrome (according to NCEP ATP III criteria) selected
from the medicine outdoor clinic (including diabetic clinics, thyroid clinics) and medicine
indoor wards in Post Graduate Department of Medicine, SN Medical College and Hospital,
Agra. Diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction was made by history, examination and serum FT4
and TSH. Result and observations: Out of 60 patients of metabolic syndrome, 30 patients
(50%) were euthyroid, 13 patients (21.66%) had subclinical hypothyroid and 12 patients (20%)
had overt hypothyroid. Five patients (8.33%) of metabolic syndrome had hyperthyroidism.
Truncal obesity was most prevalent (80.0%) component of metabolic syndrome, followed
by hypertriglyceridemia (70%). Diabetes mellitus was equally prevalent in both males as
well as females and was present in about 40.0% patients and 53% of patients with metabolic
syndrome were hypertensive. Conclusion: This study shows that 50% metabolic syndrome
patients had thyroid dysfunction. About 21.66% had subclinical hypothyroidism, 20% had
overt hypothyroidism and 8.33% were having hyperthyroidism. The most common symptom
in metabolic syndrome patients with hypothyroidism was lethargy/sleepiness followed by
dry and coarse skin. The most common symptom in hyperthyroid patients was nervousness
(100%) followed by sweating, heat intolerance and palpitation in 80% of the patients.