Evidence mapPaperPMID 40539165Full record

ReviewCureus2025

Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Subclinical Hypothyroidism: A Systematic Review.

Musab Karar, Suzan Mohammed Eltayeb Eltahir, Afra Mubarak Mohammed Ibrahim, Fatima Salah Mohammed Mahmoud, Sara Ahmed Mohamed Abdalla, Abeer Abdelraouf Hyder Mohammed, Wadah Ahmed Osman Ahmed

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Musab KararGeneral Practice, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull, GBR.
Suzan Mohammed Eltayeb EltahirInternal Medicine, Sudan Medical Specialization Board, Khartoum, SDN.
Afra Mubarak Mohammed IbrahimCardiac Critical Care, Royal Brompton and Harfield Trust, London, GBR.
Fatima Salah Mohammed MahmoudFaculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, SDN.
Sara Ahmed Mohamed AbdallaInternal Medicine, Care Medical - Almalaz, Riyadh, SAU.
Abeer Abdelraouf Hyder MohammedInternal Medicine, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, GBR.
Wadah Ahmed Osman AhmedInternal Medicine, Kalba Hospital, Sharjah, ARE.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) are prevalent endocrine-metabolic disorders with significant cardiovascular implications. Emerging evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship between these conditions, but findings remain inconsistent across populations. This systematic review synthesizes existing literature to evaluate the association between SCH and MetS, focusing on prevalence, demographic variations, and mechanistic links. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase up to April 2025. Twelve observational studies (cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control) were included after screening. Studies were selected based on predefined criteria: adult populations (≥18 years), clear definitions of SCH (elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with normal free thyroxine 4 (FT4)) and MetS (National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III), International Diabetes Federation (IDF), or Joint Interim criteria). Data were extracted on study characteristics, prevalence rates, and metabolic associations. Quality assessment used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. SCH prevalence was significantly higher in MetS patients (range 8.9-37%) as compared to controls, with notable geographic and gender disparities. Key findings included: (1) Strong associations between SCH and central obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension; (2) Gender-specific risks, with males showing higher MetS incidence and females exhibiting higher SCH prevalence; (3) Age-related trends, with SCH prevalence increasing with age, though no elevated risk was observed in individuals ≥50 years. Longitudinal data suggested MetS may predict SCH development. This review supports a significant association between SCH and MetS, driven by shared pathways involving lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and adiposity. Demographic variations underscore the need for tailored screening, particularly in high-risk groups. Standardized diagnostic criteria and prospective studies are warranted to clarify causality and therapeutic implications.

Indexed as

cardiometabolic riskinsulin resistancemetabolic syndromesubclinical hypothyroidismsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40539165
PMCPMC12178271

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.