Objectives: To evaluate the association of thyroid immunity with cardiovascular symptoms and body mass index (BMI).
Methods: Four hundred and sixty-five primary care patients underwent ultrasound evaluation of the thyroid gland, with hypo-echoic thyroid pattern indicating autoimmune involvement. BMI and blood pressure (BP) were the main outcomes.
Results: Men and women with hypo-echoic thyroid had higher BMI and higher BP in comparison to patients with normo-echoic thyroid. Among women with hypo-echoic thyroid, only those who were premenopausal had higher BMI and higher BP in comparison to women with normo-echoic thyroid.
Conclusions: Thyroid immunity is related to higher BMI and higher BP in men and women, especially in premenopausal women.