Height and Active Arterial Wall Thickening in Relation to Thyroid Cysts Status among Elderly Japanese: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Height is inversely associated with inflammation that stimulates endothelial repair. In our previous study involving elderly men aged 60–69 years, we found that active arterial wall thickening, which is known as the process of endothelial repair, requires CD34-positive cells. As thyroid hormone regulates CD34-positive cell production and as the absence of thyroid cysts might indicate latent damage in the thyroid, the status of thyroid cysts possibly influences the association between height and active arterial wall thickening. We conducted a 2-year follow-up study of Japanese aged 60–69 years. For participants with thyroid cysts, height was significantly inversely associated with active arterial wall thickening (thyroid function and baseline CIMT adjusted odds ratio of active arterial wall thickening for one increment of standard deviation of height (5.7 cm for men and 4.8 cm for women), 0.66 [0.49, 0.89]), while for those without thyroid cysts, a positive tendency between the two parameters was observed (1.19 [0.96, 1.50]). An inverse association between height and active arterial wall thickening was observed only for elderly participants with thyroid cysts possibly because of a supportive role of thyroid hormone, as the absence of thyroid cysts might indicate latent damage in the thyroid.

Progression of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Partly Indicates the Prevention of Hypertension among Older Individuals in the General Population

“…However, our present study did not evaluate the influence of height loss on evaluating the activity of hypertension prevention related endothelial repair. In addition, thyroid cysts are associated with height, structural atherosclerosis, and hypertension [80][81][82][83]. Therefore, thyroid cysts can also have an effect on hypertension and structural atherosclerosis.…”