Table 3.

Association Between Baseline Serum TSH and Baseline Blood Pressure in the Pooled Population

	Power-transformed TSH (PTSH)	Low TSHa	High TSHa	TSH in the reference range
β
Systolic blood pressure,b mmHg	−1.1** (−1.5; −0.7)	−0.0 (−1.1; 1.1)	1.1* (0.1; 2.1)	1.4** (0.9; 1.9)
Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg	5.2** (3.4; 7.0)	−0.4 (−1.1; 0.2)	1.4** (0.7; 2.0)	0.6** (0.3; 1.0)
Pulse pressure, mmHg	−0.0 (−2.3; 2.2)	0.4 (−0.4; 1.2)	−0.3 (−1.0; 0.5)	0.6* (0.2; 1.0)
Odds ratio
Hypertensionc	1.76* (1.24; 2.50)	0.91 (0.78; 1.06)	1.12 (0.97; 1.29)	1.16** (1.09; 1.24)

n=17,023; n=14,896 for analyses regarding TSH in the reference range. Median regression for continuous outcomes, logistic regression for dichotomous outcomes; all models adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, and smoking status. Pooled data analysis additionally adjusted for study. Fractional polynomials were applied to test for a nonlinear relationship between serum TSH levels and the respective outcome.

^aCompared to serum TSH levels within the reference range (0.3–3.0).

^bPTSH was transformed to PTSH⁻¹, since otherwise PTSH remained untransformed.

^cDefined as diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg, or intake of antihypertensive medication.

^*p<0.05; ^**p<0.001.