The role of cardiovascular assessment in low risk thyroid neoplasm patients: results from a tertiary care center experience

Background: After surgery, clinical approach to thyroid neoplasms often involves TSH suppression. An increased cardiovascular (CV) risk due to thyroid hormones excess has already been proved. Aim of the study was to evaluate the role of CV assessment in preventing new events and optimizing the follow-up of these patients. Methods: After thyroidectomy for low risk thyroid neoplasms, a cohort of 108 women was retrospectively evaluated. A first examination (V1) at the end of primary treatments and a second one (V2) five years later were considered.  Clinical and echocardiographic evaluations were performed in each examination. Patients were divided into 3 subclasses depending on TSH-suppression degree in the study period. New cardiovascular events, initiation of  new therapies and cardiovascular deaths were recorded. Results: The incidence of CV events was 7,4%. Patients age (p=0.032), previous CV events (p=0.001), use of lipid-lowering (p=0.002) and antiplatelet (p=0.027) drugs and diabetes mellitus (p=0,049) were associated with total CV events;  interventricular septum thickness, BMI and tryglicerides value with ischaemic events (sensitivity 66,6%, 100%, 80%; specificity 91,1%, 55,1%, 77,2%, respectively; p<0.001); TSH-suppression class with arrhythmic events (p=0.035); an increased left ventricular mass index ratio between V2 and V1 with both total (p=0.001) and ischaemic (p=0.002) CV events. Conclusions: After primary treatments for thyroid neoplasm, a complete CV assessment is advisable in defining TSH-suppression target. Ultrasound parameters appear useful in evaluating CV risk both at baseline and during the follow-up. A periodic revaluation of those parameters may allow the prevention or early diagnosis of new events and complications.