Correlation analysis of metabolic syndrome and its components with thyroid nodules

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components with the occurrence of thyroid nodules.

Methods

A total of 2719 volunteers from some areas of Gansu Province, China, who participated in the national survey of thyroid diseases and iodine nutrition status (Tide) and diabetes prevalence, were selected. Their height, weight, waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure were recorded. The fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h plasma postprandial glucose (2hPG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels were measured. The prevalence of MetS and thyroid nodules was evaluated, and the correlation between each component of MetS and thyroid nodules was studied.

Results

The prevalence of MetS and thyroid nodules was 15.4% and 17.2%, respectively. WC, SBP, body mass index, FPG, 2hPG, TG, TC, and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were significantly higher in the thyroid nodule group. The prevalence of thyroid nodules was significantly higher in the MetS group. A positive correlation was found between the degree of metabolic disorder and the occurrence of thyroid nodules. WC was found to be a risk factor for the occurrence of thyroid nodules. For WC≥90 cm, an increase in the independent variables led to a significant rise in the incidence of thyroid nodules.

Conclusion

The prevalence of thyroid nodules was higher in the MetS group. The WC of the MetS components might be an independent risk factor for the occurrence of thyroid nodules.

Keywords:

• metabolic syndrome
• risk factors
• thyroid nodules
• waist circumference

Acknowledgment

This work was financially supported by the Public Welfare Research Projects of China under Grant (201,402,005), and the Special Fund for Clinical Medical Research of Chinese Medical Association under Grant (15,010,010,589).

Ethics query

This study was approved by the First Hospital of Lanzhou University ethics committee, in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and the participants provided written informed consent.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author.

Disclosure

No potential conflicts of interest were reported by the authors in this work.