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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2005; 113(9): 507-515
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-865741
Article

J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Risk Factors for Goiter in a Previously Iodine-Deficient Region

H. Völzke1 , C. Schwahn1 , T. Kohlmann2 , A. Kramer3 , D. M. Robinson4 , U. John1 , W. Meng[†] 4
  • 1Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University Greifswald, Germany
  • 2Institute for Community Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University Greifswald, Germany
  • 3Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University Greifswald, Germany
  • 4Clinic of Internal Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University Greifswald, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received: May 27, 2004 First decision: March 7, 2005

Accepted: May 14, 2005

Publication Date:
19 October 2005 (online)

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Abstract

Objective: Little information exists from formerly iodine-deficient areas regarding gender-specific risk factors for goiter and their synergisms. The aim of the present study was to investigate such gender-specific risk factors and their interactions in a large population-based sample. Methods and Results: The Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) comprised 4310 randomly selected participants, aged 20 - 79 years. SHIP was performed in a previously iodine-deficient region. Data from 3915 participants with no known thyroid disorders were analyzed. Goiter was determined by thyroid ultrasound. Sociodemographic characteristics, smoking and alcohol drinking habits, marital status, education level, urine thiocyanate concentrations, and specifically in women, parity and previous or current use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy, were considered as candidate risk factors for multivariable statistical tests. Only two variables, an advanced age and current smoking, were independently associated with an increased risk for goiter in both genders. Analyses further revealed specific risk factor profiles for goiter which were different among men, pre- and postmenopausal women. Conclusion: We conclude that besides previous iodine deficiency, other risk factors for goiter exist which differ between gender. Among the avoidable risk factors, current smoking was strongly associated with the risk of goiter in men and women. These findings should influence activities which are intended to prevent thyroid disease.

Key words

Goiter - risk factors - population-based - Study of Health in Pomerania

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1 † died on May 30th, 2004

PD Dr. med., MD Henry Völzke

Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine
Ernst Moritz Arndt University

Walther Rathenau Straße 48

17487 Greifswald

Germany

Phone: + 493834867707

Fax: + 49 38 34 86 66 84

Email: voelzke@uni-greifswald.de