Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered that the intensity of thyroid hormone treatment may be linked to an increased risk of heart-related death.
This groundbreaking study, led by Maria Papaleontiou and published in JAMA Network Open, sheds new light on the potential risks associated with one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States.
Levothyroxine, a synthetic thyroid hormone, consistently ranks as one of the top three most prescribed medications across the nation.
This hormone is crucial for managing thyroid health, but its connection to heart health has not been thoroughly understood until now.
Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death among Americans, impacting nearly half of the adult population over the age of 20 despite numerous efforts to curb its prevalence. With thyroid hormone treatments being so widely used, understanding any potential links to heart health is vital.
The study focused on a large group of U.S. veterans, numbering over 705,000, who received thyroid hormone therapy between 2004 and 2017. The researchers aimed to explore how the intensity of thyroid hormone treatment could influence the risk of heart-related death.
Their observations noted that up to half of the patients treated with thyroid hormones may experience exogenous hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, conditions characterized by thyrotropin levels that are either too low or too high, respectively. These imbalances were found to increase the risk of heart-related death.
Specifically, thyrotropin levels below 0.1 mIU/L or above 20 mIU/L were associated with significant concerns. These findings suggest that the intensity of thyroid hormone treatment could be a modifiable risk factor in managing heart disease risk.
The study also highlighted that older individuals receiving thyroid hormone therapy are particularly vulnerable to these adverse outcomes. This age group could benefit from targeted interventions to prevent over-treatment or under-treatment.
To ensure the study’s accuracy, certain patients were excluded, including those with a history of thyroid cancer—who often require different thyrotropin levels to prevent cancer recurrence—and those prescribed medications like lithium or amiodarone, which can affect thyroid function.
The implications of this research are significant. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining balanced thyroid function, or euthyroidism, to minimize the risk of heart disease and death in patients undergoing thyroid hormone treatment.
This balance is crucial not only for the effective management of thyroid health but also for safeguarding heart health in these patients.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about top foods to love for a stronger heart, and why oranges may help fight obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
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