| OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and characteristics of thyroid nodule and its relationship with thyroid function in middle-aged to elderly individuals.METHODSA cross-sectional, stratified, and cluster random sampling study was performed in1721subjects (average age were71.4years, from40to108years) who were on routine physical examination in officials’ outpatient department of Beijing Hospital. All subjects underwent ultrasound thyroid scan, and the prevalence of thyroid nodule and its size, quantity, property and distribution were age-stratified analyzed. The relationship between nodule existence and thyroid function was assessed in subjects who randomly accepted TSH, FT4and FT3tests.RESULTSThe prevalence of thyroid nodule reached to76.6%. The incidence of nodule increased with age (χ2=92.08,p<0.001), and was more common in female (87.4%vs.75.5%, p=0.001).In patients with thyroid nodule, the prevalence of solitary nodule was25%, compared with75%of multiple nodules, which increased with age (χ2=78.55, p<0.001). The prevalence of small nodule reached to68.2%, compared with31.8%of large nodules, which also increased with age (χ2=36.82,p<0.001). About the property of nodule, solid nodule was the most common form (72.3%), cyst-solid nodule account for26.6%, and detection rate of cyst nodule was only2.1%, and there was no significant difference among the different age groups (χ2=14.22, P=0.076).884among the total subjects underwent thyroid function test, multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the reduction of TSH was the only independent predicted factor of thyroid nodule (P=0.005). CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of thyroid nodules was extremely high under the use of ultrasonographic image, especially in elderly. The incidence of thyroid nodule (especially multiple nodules or larger nodule) increased with age and solid nodule was the most common form. There was a possible correlation between the occurrence of thyroid nodule and lower level of TSH. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the variation tendency related to various values of thyroid function test according to the age, and the prevalence of thyroid disorders in middle-aged to elderly individuals.METHODS:A cross-sectional, stratified, and cluster random sampling study was performed in884subjects (average age were73.0years, from40to108years) who were on routine physical examination in officials’ outpatient department of Beijing Hospital. All subjects underwent thyroid function test. To identify the variation tendency of values on different thyroid hormones and the prevalence of thyroid disorders(e.g. hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and low-T3and/or T4syndrome) associated with increasing age.RESULTS:1.The average age of the physical examination cohort which included884subjects is73.0(ranged from40to108).Values of different thyroid hormones in870subjects (14subjects in cohort were excluded for drug-induced thyroid disorders) were tested according to age stratification, the level of TT3, TT4, FT3and FT4decreased with age (p<0.05), and such correlation is most remarkable between age and FT3(χ2=256.93). RT3increased with age considerably (p<0.0001), and TSH fairly elevated with increasing age in people (P=0.023).2. The prevalence of various thyroid function abnormalities in total884subjects were age-stratified calculated and tested by linear-association chi-square test. The prevalence of hypothyroidism is6.33%, it significantly increased with age (χ2=21.08,p=0.0003). The occurrence rate of hyperthyroidism is1.13%, there was no relationship between its occurrence and increased age (χ2=2.64,p=0.619). Detection rates of isolated elevation of RT3, reduction of FT3and/or FT4were9.95%and4.41%, respectively. They significantly increased with aging too(χ2=43.38,p<0.0001; χ2=39.66,p<0.0001).CONCLUSION:In middle-aged to elderly people, thyroid hormones level evolved with increasing age. TT3, TT4, FT3and FT4decreased with age (especially to FT3), but RT3increased with aging. And TSH fairly elevated with increasing age. Detection rate of some thyroid disorders, e.g. hypothyroidism and low-T3and/or T4, elevated when people grow older. |
