Abstract：Objective To investigate the status of iodine nutrition among residents in Huizhou region, to analyze the risk factors of thyroid nodules in this region, and to provide a basis for prevention and treatment of thyroid nodules in future. Methods Multi-stage and random sampling method was used to select 896 adults aged 25-70 years in Huizhou region to serve as the subjects from January 2015 to December 2016. The subjects’ name, gender, age and other general information were investigated through a questionnaire survey; moreover, the level of iodine in urine and the prevalence of thyroid nodules were examined. Univariate chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the factors related to thyroid nodules.Results The level of urinary iodine in the overall population of Huizhou region was 1.42-2,537.73 μg/L, and the median was 149.25 μg/L. The median urinary iodine level was significantly higher in males than in females (Z=4.092, P<0.05) as well as higher in rural population than in urban population (Z=-5.984, P<0.05). Univariate analysis showed that the occurrence of thyroid nodules among the residents in Huizhou region was related to gender, age, district, smoking, drinking, urinary iodine level, often eating seafood and history of thyroid diseases (all P<0.05), but unrelated to often eating preserved food (P>0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female (OR=2.418), age greater than or equal to 60 years old (OR=2.143), smoking (OR=2.113), drinking (OR=1.826), low urinary iodine (OR=3.582) and history of thyroid diseases (OR=2.425) were the risk factorsfor the occurrence ofthyroid nodules among the residents in Huizhou region, while often eating seafood (OR=0.356) was a protective factor for the occurrence ofthyroid nodules (P<0.05). Conclusions The overall level of iodine nutrition of the residents in Huizhou region is adequate, but it is still necessary to strengthen the examination of thyroid nodules in the key population and give effective therapies.
2018, Vol. 25 
