Factors Associated with the Prevalence of Thyroid Nodules and Goiter in Middle-Aged Euthyroid Subjects.

Dalia Dauksiene,Rasa Verkauskiene,Jonas Ceponis,Jurate Klumbiene,Birute Zilaitiene,Jelena Vainikonyte-Kristapone,Vygantas Sidlauskas,Antanas Norkus,Laura Daugintyte-Petrusiene,Janina Petkeviciene,Audrone Seibokaite

doi:10.1155/2017/8401518

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine associations of thyroid hormone levels and different metabolic parameters and anthropometric measurements with volume of nodular and nonnodular thyroid as well as with prevalence of goiter and thyroid nodules in middle-aged euthyroid subjects. Methods. The study consisted of 317 euthyroid subjects aged 48-49 from the Kaunas Cardiovascular Risk Cohort study. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and antithyroid peroxidase antibody (ATPO) levels, as well as anthropometric and metabolic parameters and smoking information, were evaluated. Results. In subjects with and without thyroid nodules, thyroid volume correlated with components of metabolic syndrome, body mass index (BMI), smoking, and TSH levels. In the nonnodular thyroid group, thyroid volume was also positively related to serum insulin and HOMA-IR, whereas a negative correlation between thyroid volume and leptin was identified in the nodular thyroid group. The goiter was identified in 12.3% of subjects. Female gender, thyroid nodules, smoking, BMI, and levels of TSH were independent predictors for goiter. Thyroid nodules were found in 31.2% of participants. Female gender, higher TSH levels, and thyroid volume were independent risk factors for thyroid nodules. Conclusions. Female gender, thyroid nodules, smoking, BMI, and TSH levels were identified as potential predictors of goiter. Female gender, TSH levels, and thyroid volume predicted the presence of thyroid nodules.

Highlights

The most common thyroid disorders are thyroid nodules and goiter that develop as a result of the interplay between genetic, environmental, or endogenous factors
body mass index (BMI); waist circumference; blood pressure; and levels of fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA-insulin resistance (IR) values were significantly higher in men than in women
The risk of increased prevalence for thyroid nodules was significantly associated with thyroid volume, female gender, and Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels

Summary

Introduction

The most common thyroid disorders are thyroid nodules and goiter that develop as a result of the interplay between genetic, environmental, or endogenous factors. Thyroid nodules and goiter have no clinical symptoms in majority of patients, both conditions can be associated with disorders such as endocrine dysregulation, autoimmune thyroid disease, impaired body composition, or various metabolic abnormalities [3]. Thyroid hormones, even within normal ranges, may be associated with various markers of unfavorable metabolic profile [5]. Some authors reported that metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its related components, including obesity, insulin resistance (IR), hypertension, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose metabolism, are associated with morphological abnormalities of the thyroid and may contribute to increased thyroid volume as well as nodule prevalence [6]. Recent studies highlighted the importance of hyperinsulinemia/insulin resistance, the central features of MetS, in thyroid cell proliferation, which manifested as increased thyroid volume and nodule [7, 8]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion