Prevalence and risk factors of thyroid structural abnormalities among adults in Heilongjiang Province, China

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The prevalence of adult thyroid structural abnormalities has increased significantly worldwide. However, no study has examined the thyroid structure and urine iodine levels of adults in Heilongjiang Province in the last decade. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the rate and risk factors of thyroid structural abnormalities among the residents of this province. Methods and Study Design: A probability proportional sampling method was used, and a total of 3,645 individuals in Heilongjiang Province were included. The subjects was asked to complete a thyroid ultrasound and fill out a questionnaire. Furthermore, urine iodine levels and salt iodine content were determined, and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the independent risk factors for thyroid diseases. Results: The prevalence of thyroid structural abnormalities in Heilongjiang Province was 56.0%. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences between the structural abnormalities group and the normal thyroid group in terms of sex, age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, frequency of seafood consumption and pickled food consumption, employment status, and urine iodine level (p ＜ 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the following were independent risk factors of thyroid disease: female, increased age, hypertension, diabetes, cigarette smoking frequent seafood consumption, employment, and urine iodine levels. Conclusions: The prevalence of thyroid structural abnormalities in adults in Heilongjiang Province was relatively high. Therefore, to help prevent the occurrence of thyroid disease in adults in Heilongjiang Province, the risk factors of thyroid structural abnormalities should be better understood.