Hypertension and dyslipidemia are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, accounting for the highest morbidity and mortality among the Nigerian population. Thyroid dysfunction on the other hand is the second most common endocrinal disorder in Nigeria and the prevalence rate of thyroid dysfunction is much higher among the hypertensive population. The objective of this study was to evaluate serum thyroid hormones and lipid profiles of hypertensive subjects. This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study carried out among 232 participants including 172 hypertensive subjects and 60 normotensive controls in Medical Out-Patient Clinic, Central Hospital, Benin City Nigeria. Data were collected on blood pressure, Thyroid Stimulating Hormones (TSH, T3 & T4), and lipid profile. The mean (± standard deviation) systolic and diastolic blood pres¬sures of the test and control subjects were 157.00±23.40 and 114.42±11.00 (systolic), 98.57 ± 10.36, and 78.50 ± 7.25 (Diastolic) which were higher in the hypertensive patients (P=0.001 and 0.005 respectively). The serum levels of TG, and LDL were higher while HDL levels were lower in hypertensive subjects compared to the normotensives (P=0.045, 0.002, & 0.000, respectively). There was no statistical significant difference observed in the mean levels of TC between the groups (p=0.603). The serum levels of T3 and T4 were significantly higher in hypertensive subjects when compared with that of normotensive subjects(P<0.05). There was no statistical significant difference observed in the mean levels of TSH between the groups. The present study concludes that the prevalence of hyperthyroidism was greater among hypertensive subjects than the normotensive subjects. Based on the obtained results, the serum lipid profile and thyroid hormones may be useful in identification of patients at risk of hypertension since they are useful tests that carry important prognostic information.
 

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