Subclinical Hypothyroidism as a Risk for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background The relationship between hypothyroidism and cardiovascular disease is well established. However, data on subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) and its impact on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and postoperative complications following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remain limited. This study was aimed at evaluating whether SH is associated with an increased risk of these outcomes. Methods From 2010 to 2019, 863 patients who underwent CABG for cardiovascular diseases at a reference center were included. The primary outcomes included MACE (composite and individual events: all‐cause death, cardiovascular death, stroke, acute myocardial infarction [AMI], and new revascularization) and postoperative complications, including atrial fibrillation (AF), pleural effusion (PLE), pericardial effusion (PCE), infections at any site (IASs), and mediastinitis. Results SH patients had higher rates of MACE (20.3% vs. 8.2%, p = 0.001), MACE 4p (22.0% vs. 12.9%, p = 0.002), and stroke (10.2% vs. 3.0%, p = 0.013) than those of euthyroid patients. No significant differences were observed in all‐cause death, cardiovascular death, AMI, or new revascularization. Postoperative complications were also more frequent in the SH group: AF (18.6% vs. 9.7%, p = 0.043), PLE (52.6% vs. 19.2%, p < 0.0001), PCE (20.3% vs. 7.8%, p = 0.03), and IAS (28.8% vs. 16.9%, p = 0.032). However, no significant difference was noted in the incidence of mediastinitis. Conclusions SH patients who underwent CABG had a higher frequency of MACE and postoperative complications than those of euthyroid patients.