Objective: To investigate the prevalence of thyroid diseases in a community which did not use iodized salt.
Methods: The survey was conducted in Panshan, Liaoning Province. 1 103 inhabitants aged 14 years or more attended the examinations, which included questionnaire, physical examination and serum analysis. Iodine in the urine and thyroid B ultrasound examination were also conducted.
Results: The prevalence of overt hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism was 16.3 per thousand and 2.7 per thousand, respectively. Subclinical hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism were detected in 37.2 per thousand and 9.1 per thousand of the subjects, respectively. Serum autoantibodies to thyroid were detected in 10.9% of the entire population. The prevalence of goiter was 20.7% (diffuse goiter 16.8% and nodular goiter 3.9%).
Conclusion: In the iodine deficient areas, perhaps autoimmununization is not only related to the development of goiter but is also the main cause of subclinical hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.