S Gaengler1, X D Andrianou1, A Piciu2, P Charisiadis1, C Zira3, K Aristidou4, D Piciu5, K C Makris6. 1. Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus. 2. Medical Oncology Department, Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta Institute of Oncology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. 3. Endocrinology Department, Archbishop Makarios III Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus. 4. Radiology Department, Archbishop Makarios III Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus. 5. Medical Oncology Department, Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta Institute of Oncology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Nuclear Medicine Department, Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta Institute of Oncology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. 6. Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus. Electronic address: konstantinos.makris@cut.ac.cy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The increased comparative prevalence rates of thyroid cancer in Cyprus (>EU average) led us to conduct this study on possible risk factors of thyroid nodules. Romania served as a reference with a comparative thyroid cancer prevalence < EU average. This study aimed to assess the association between urinary iodine (UI) and thyroid nodules in adult females (n = 208) from Cyprus and Romania. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study (n = 208). METHODS: Cases were females with ultrasound-confirmed thyroid nodules and controls with confirmed absence of nodules. In both countries, subjects underwent ultrasound medical examinations, completed a questionnaire and offered a spot urine sample. RESULTS: Median UI level in Cyprus was 94 μg/L, whereas 32% of the Cypriot UI was < 50 μg/L, classifying the population as mildly iodine deficient. In Romania, both cases and controls were iodine sufficient. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in serum free thyroxin (fT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were found between cases and controls. Cases had lower median TSH levels compared with controls (1.4 mIU/L and 1.7 mIU/L, P = 0.060), but serum TSH and free thyroxin levels were within normal range. Albeit non-significant, participants with inadequate UI (<100 μg/L) had increased risk for thyroid nodules (odds ratio = 1.40, 95% confidence interval = 0.70, 2.81, P = 0.346), using multiple logistic regression after adjusting for age, body mass index, education, country and serum TSH. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study to quantify UI levels in Cyprus. While the Romanian iodine fortification programme reflected onto its UI levels, a representative assessment of iodine status in Cyprus will address the necessity of an iodine fortification programme.
OBJECTIVES: The increased comparative prevalence rates of thyroid cancer in Cyprus (>EU average) led us to conduct this study on possible risk factors of thyroid nodules. Romania served as a reference with a comparative thyroid cancer prevalence < EU average. This study aimed to assess the association between urinary iodine (UI) and thyroid nodules in adult females (n = 208) from Cyprus and Romania. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study (n = 208). METHODS: Cases were females with ultrasound-confirmed thyroid nodules and controls with confirmed absence of nodules. In both countries, subjects underwent ultrasound medical examinations, completed a questionnaire and offered a spot urine sample. RESULTS: Median UI level in Cyprus was 94 μg/L, whereas 32% of the Cypriot UI was < 50 μg/L, classifying the population as mildly iodine deficient. In Romania, both cases and controls were iodine sufficient. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in serum free thyroxin (fT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were found between cases and controls. Cases had lower median TSH levels compared with controls (1.4 mIU/L and 1.7 mIU/L, P = 0.060), but serum TSH and free thyroxin levels were within normal range. Albeit non-significant, participants with inadequate UI (<100 μg/L) had increased risk for thyroid nodules (odds ratio = 1.40, 95% confidence interval = 0.70, 2.81, P = 0.346), using multiple logistic regression after adjusting for age, body mass index, education, country and serum TSH. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study to quantify UI levels in Cyprus. While the Romanian iodine fortification programme reflected onto its UI levels, a representative assessment of iodine status in Cyprus will address the necessity of an iodine fortification programme.
Authors: Katalin Gabora; Ovidiu Bălăcescu; Adrian Trifa; Ana Maria Morariu; Bogdan Pop; Simona Vişan; Bogdan Fetica; Andra Piciu; Doina Piciu Journal: Med Pharm Rep Date: 2022-07-26
Authors: Andreea-Ioana Stefan; Andra Piciu; Maria Margareta Cosnarovici; Monica Dragomir; Romana Netea-Maier; Doina Piciu Journal: Children (Basel) Date: 2021-05-20