ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the prevalence of thyroid nodule in middle-aged and elderly people in Heilongjiang Province, and to analyze its epidemiological characteristics and influencing factors.Methods:From December 2017 to December 2018, middle-aged and elderly people aged 40-70 years old were recruited through probability proportional sampling (PPS) method for a cross-sectional survey. The respondents were stratified by age (40-49, 50-59, 60-70 years old), urine samples were collected at random once during the day, and urinary iodine was detected by arsenic-cerium catalytic spectrophotometry (WS/T 107.1-2016). At the same time, questionnaire surveys and thyroid ultrasound examinations were conducted on the respondents. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between the related investigation factors and the thyroid nodule.Results:A total of 2 771 middle-aged and elderly people were included, and their age was (54.32 ± 8.24) years old. The median of urinary iodine was 157.04 μg/L, which was an iodine appropriate level. The prevalence of thyroid nodule was 43.63% (1 209/2 771), and the prevalence increased with age(χ 2trend=49.400, P < 0.01). The prevalence of thyroid nodule in females [46.98% (917/1 952)] was significantly higher than that in males [35.65% (292/819), χ 2=30.082, P < 0.01]. In patients with thyroid nodule, small nodule accounted for 57.65% (697/1 209), large nodule accounted for 42.35% (512/1 209), and the proportion of large nodule increased with age (χ 2trend=18.751, P<0.01). Solitary nodule accounted for 42.76% (517/1 209), multiple nodule accounted for 57.24% (692/1 209), and the proportion of multiple nodule increased with age(χ 2trend=18.437, P<0.01). Cystic-solid nodule was the most common[47.97%(580/1 209)], followed by solid nodule [44.25% (535/1 209)], and cystic nodule was the least common [7.78% (94/1 209)]. Logistic regression analysis showed female [odds ratio ( OR)=1.868, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.538-2.269, P < 0.01], age (50-59 years old: OR=1.258, 95% CI: 1.020-1.550, P < 0.05; 60-70 years old: OR=1.762, 95% CI: 1.407-2.207, P < 0.01), overweight ( OR=1.303, 95% CI: 1.078-1.574, P < 0.01), hypertension ( OR=1.332, 95% CI: 1.037-1.712, P < 0.05), and diabetes ( OR=1.604, 95% CI: 1.077-2.387, P < 0.05) were independent risk factors affecting the occurrence of thyroid nodule in middle-aged and elderly people. Conclusions:The epidemiological characteristics of thyroid nodule in middle-aged and elderly people in Heilongjiang Province have obvious age trends and gender differences. The proportion of large nodule and multiple nodule increase with age. Early screening and attention to the prognosis of women, older, overweight, hypertension and diabetes people should be strengthened.