The unseen impact of subclinical hypothyroidism on lipid profile and cardiovascular risk

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), defined by elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with normal circulating thyroid hormones, is a common endocrine disorder that frequently remains clinically silent. Emerging evidence suggests that even mild thyroid dysfunction may influence lipid metabolism and contribute to early cardiovascular risk. However, the extent to which TSH levels reflect lipid abnormalities in SCH remains controversial. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of SCH on lipid metabolism and to determine whether TSH levels are associated with alterations in lipid profile parameters and atherogenic cardiovascular risk markers. Methods: -tests were applied to compare study groups, and linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate associations between TSH levels and lipid parameters. Results: = 0.0027), indicating a more atherogenic lipid profile. In contrast, total cholesterol and LDL-C showed modest but statistically non-significant increases. Regression analysis revealed weak and non-significant correlations between TSH levels and lipid parameters. Conclusion: SCH is associated with unfavorable lipid alterations characterized by elevated triglycerides, reduced HDL-C, and an increased LDL/HDL ratio, suggesting early atherogenic risk despite normal thyroid hormone levels. These findings highlight the importance of comprehensive lipid assessment in SCH and suggest that the LDL/HDL ratio may serve as a more sensitive indicator of cardiovascular risk than TSH alone.