J Endocrinol Metab

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

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Endocrinol Metab and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://jem.elmerpub.com

Original Article

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

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

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 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.

**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 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 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

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