Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, ISSN 1923-2861 print, 1923-287X online, Open Access
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Original Article

Volume 16, Number 1, February 2026, pages 22-28

Relationship Between Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index: A Cross-Sectional Study

Figures

↓  Figure 1. The relationship between CAVI and thyroid function. (a–c) Comparison of uTSH, FT3, and FT4 in subjects CAVI < 9 and ≥ 9. (d) Correlation analysis between uTSH and CAVI. *A statistically significant difference was observed between the groups (CAVI < 9 vs. ≥ 9), with a P value < 0.001. CAVI: cardio-ankle vascular index; FT3: free triiodothyronine; FT4: free thyroxine; uTSH: ultrasensitive thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Figure 1.
↓  Figure 2. Logistic regression analysis of factors associated with elevated CAVI (≥ 9). CAVI was dichotomized into normal (< 9, coded 0) and abnormal (≥ 9, coded 1). Similarly, older age, hypertension, overweight, high LDL, high TG, low HDL, high ABI, and high apoB were defined as binary variables (presence = 1, absence = 0). ABI: ankle-brachial index; apoB: apolipoprotein B; CAVI: cardio-ankle vascular index; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; LDL: low-density lipoprotein; TG: triglycerides.
Figure 2.

Tables

↓  Table 1. Anthropometric Indicators of the Studied Population
 
Indicators Control (n = 1,749) SCH (n = 247) P value
BMI: body mass index; BMR: basal metabolic rate; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; HR: heart rate; SBP: systolic blood pressure; SCH: subclinical hypothyroidism; WC: waist circumference.
Female (%) 1,011 (57.8) 139 (56.3) 0.680
Age (years) 48.32 ± 10.19 48.41 ± 13.75 0.654
Height (cm) 164.80 ± 7.58 164.10 ± 8.28 0.131
Weight (kg) 64.83 ± 11.58 66.60 ± 12.38 0.043
BMI (kg/m2) 23.69 ± 3.35 24.22 ± 3.23 0.034
WC (cm) 81.72 ± 10.04 83.81 ± 9.88 0.004
SBP (mm Hg) 123.2 ± 17.92 125.2 ± 17.49 0.077
DBP (mm Hg) 76.57 ±12.24 76.25 ± 11.20 0.915
HR (bpm) 79.75 ± 11.92 75.19 ± 10.95 < 0.001
BMR 1,507 ± 212.2 1,359 ± 243.2 < 0.001
Fat (%) 22.51 ± 4.88 27.94 ± 6.55 < 0.001
Fat (kg) 16.18 ± 4.91 22.43 ± 4.06 < 0.001

 

↓  Table 2. Blood Biochemical Indicators of the Studied Population
 
Indicators Control SCH P value
apoA: apolipoprotein A; apoB: apolipoprotein B; FBG: fasting blood glucose; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; hsCRP: hypersensitivity C-reactive protein; LDL: low-density lipoprotein; SCH: subclinical hypothyroidism; TC: total cholesterol; TG: triglycerides.
TC (mmol/L) 4.98 ± 0.92 5.43 ± 1.01 < 0.001
TG (mmol/L) 1.87 ± 1.49 2.19 ± 1.59 0.001
HDL (mmol/L) 1.39 ± 0.36 1.36 ± 0.36 0.311
LDL (mmol/L) 3.07 ± 0.83 3.31 ± 0.89 0.002
apoA (g/L) 1.55 ± 0.25 1.53 ± 0.25 0.582
apoB (g/L) 0.99 ± 0.23 1.09 ± 0.25 < 0.001
apoB/apoA 0.66 ± 0.19 0.73 ± 0.21 0.003
FBG (mmol/L) 5.55 ± 1.25 5.48 ± 1.10 0.095
hsCRP (mg/L) 0.83 ± 1.56 1.33 ± 2.78 0.051

 

↓  Table 3. Comparison of the Arteriosclerosis Indicators in Subjects With Euthyroidism and Subclinical Hypothyroidism
 
Indicators Control (n = 1,749) SCH (n = 247) P value
ABI: ankle-brachial index; baPWV: brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity; CAVI: cardio-ankle vascular index; SCH: subclinical hypothyroidism.
CAVI 7.04 ± 1.31 7.93 ± 1.38 < 0.001
CAVI ≥ 9, n (%) 98 (5.60) 37 (14.98) 0.004
ABI 1.11 ± 0.08 1.22 ± 0.08 < 0.001
ABI ≥ 1.3, n (%) 12 (0.69) 5 (2.02) 0.049
baPWV (cm/s) 1,346 ± 279.8 1,418 ± 302.5 0.003
baPWV ≥ 1,800, n (%) 101 (5.77) 26 (10.53) 0.008