A recent study conducted by the University of Michigan has brought to light the link between thyroid hormone treatment and the risk of heart-related deaths.
This research is particularly significant given that levothyroxine, a synthetic thyroid hormone, ranks as one of the most prescribed medications in the United States over the past decade.
Despite ongoing efforts to combat heart disease, it remains the leading cause of death among Americans, with nearly half of the population aged 20 and older being affected.
The study delved into the association between the intensity of thyroid hormone treatment and the risk of death due to heart disease, an area that has seen limited research until now.
The research team analyzed data from more than 705,000 U.S. veterans who were on thyroid hormone therapy between 2004 and 2017.
They observed that a significant number of these patients suffered from either exogenous hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism—conditions characterized by thyrotropin levels that are either too low or too high, respectively, compared to the normal range.
The findings revealed that patients with these imbalances in thyrotropin levels faced a higher risk of dying from heart disease than those with normal thyroid function.
This suggests that the intensity of thyroid hormone treatment might be a key factor that could be modified to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Specifically, thyrotropin levels below 0.1 mIU/L or above 20 mIU/L were identified as particularly concerning for heart health.
The study also highlighted that older individuals are especially vulnerable to the adverse effects of improper thyroid hormone treatment.
This emphasizes the need for careful management of thyroid hormone dosages to avoid over-treatment or under-treatment, particularly in this age group.
Patients with a history of thyroid cancer were not included in the study since lower thyrotropin levels are often deliberately maintained in these individuals to minimize the risk of cancer recurrence.
Similarly, those prescribed medications like lithium or amiodarone, which can affect thyroid function, were also excluded from the analysis.
These findings underscore the critical importance of maintaining balanced thyroid hormone levels—known as euthyroidism—to lower the risk of heart disease and mortality among patients undergoing thyroid hormone therapy.
As heart health continues to be a major concern for millions of Americans, this study provides valuable insights into how thyroid hormone treatment, a common intervention for thyroid disorders, needs to be carefully managed to protect heart health.
It opens the door for healthcare providers to consider thyroid function as a significant factor in the overall management of patients’ cardiovascular risk profiles.
For individuals concerned about heart health or those undergoing thyroid hormone treatment, this study highlights the importance of regular monitoring and discussion with healthcare professionals to ensure treatment is optimized for both thyroid and heart health.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
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