Comparison of triglyceride-glucose index and atherogenic index of plasma in euthyroid Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients and healthy controls

The relationship between insulin resistance and atherosclerosis in euthyroid Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index between patients with euthyroid HT and healthy controls. This retrospective cross-sectional study examined 1,000 patients aged 18–50 who visited the internal medicine outpatient clinic at Mersin City Training and Research Hospital between January 1, 2020, and June 1, 2022. The study population was separated into two groups: 495 adult patients diagnosed with eutyroid HT and a control group of 505 individuals who visited the internal medicine outpatient clinic of our hospital. The two groups were compared with respect to the following parameters: T3, T4, and TSH levels; thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) levels; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels; TyG index; AIP; and body mass index. Patients with euthyroid HT had higher blood triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, TgAb, TPOAb levels, AIP, and TyG index than those in the control group (p < 0.001). Correlation analysis showed a moderate significant correlation between AIP and TyG index, TPOAb, and TgAb levels (p < 0.05). The euthyroid HT group exhibited higher AIP and TyG index values than the control group. These findings suggest the presence of insulin resistance and atherosclerosis in patients with HT, independent of thyroid function, and suggest that euthyroid patients with HT should be closely monitored for the development of these conditions.