Objective To investigate the prevalence rate of thyroid enlargement in children aged (8~10) years in Lanzhou, Gansu province and its influencing factors.
Methods In 2016, according to the iodine deficiency disorders surveillance program of Gansu province, 43 primary schools were selected from eight districts (counties) in Lanzhou using the stratified cluster sampling method, and 200 students (1 600 in total) aged (8~10) years were randomly selected from each district (county) as subjects. The relevant data such as age, gender, thyroid volume, urinary iodine content, and iodine content in iodized salts were collected.
Results The median thyroid volume of the 1 600 children was 3.95 mL, and the goiter rate was 3.25%; male children had a significantly higher median thyroid volume than female children (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences between thyroid volume, different genders and ages of children(P>0.05). The median iodine content in iodized salts was 23.80 mg/kg, with a qualified rate of 93.06%; there were no significant differences in iodized salt intake between different gender and age (both P>0.05). The median thyroid volume of qualified iodized salt group was lower than that of unqualified iodized salt and non-iodized salt groups. The median urinary iodine content was 190.00 μg/L, and male children had a significantly higher value than female children (P < 0.01). There was no significant differences in urinary iodine content between different age groups (P>0.05). There was a positive correlation between urinary iodine content and thyroid volume in children.
Conclusion Iodine nutrition is generally at an appropriate level in children aged (8~10) years in Lanzhou. Thyroid volume is correlated with iodine nutritional status.
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