ABSTRACT
Objective To know the prevalence of thyroid nodules among the residents from coastal area and to explore the risk factors of thyroid nodules.Methods The residents were selected by cluster random sampling method.Questionnaire interview was conducted.Thyroid ultrasound examination was performed in all subject,salt iodine,urinary iodine and the thyroid hormone including FT3,FT4,TSH,TPOAb,TGAb were measured.The groups with or without thyroid nodules were compared and the data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression.Results The prevalence rate of thyroid nodules among the residents from coastal area of Ningbo City was 46.51%,after standardized was 41.61%. Female (OR =1.75,95%CI =1.37 -2.24),groups of aged 40 (OR =3.82,95%CI =1.70 -8.56)and aged 65(OR =5.76,95%CI =2.28 -14.54)were significantly associated with thyroid nodules.Conclusion The prevalence rate of thyroid nodules among the surveyed population was at a high level.Female and age (aged≥ 40)were risk factors of thyroid nodules.