title: Prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders in the United Arab Emirates measured by raised TSH levels.
abstract: The United Arab Emirates National Screening Programme for Congenital Hypothyroidism was established in January 1998. The programme measures neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels of blood samples collected on filter paper on day 5 by heel prick. The prevalence of raised TSH levels (> 5 microU/mL whole blood) during 1998 and 1999 was used to evaluate the degree of iodine-deficiency disorders (IDD) in the population in different regions. The ratio of TSH profile in the present study and goitre rate in schools in a 1994 study were discrepant, although there was good correlation between the ratio of TSH profile and urinary iodine. The prevalence of raised TSH levels was < 3% in the Emirates overall, which is normal, and IDD varied from mild to normal problems in different regions.
authors.affiliation: Central Department of Maternal and Child Health, Ministry of Health, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al-Hosani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abdel Wareth
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saade
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism; D006043:Goiter, Endemic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007455:Iodine / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000652:urine; D009017:Morbidity; D009313:National Health Programs; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012016:Reference Values; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin; D007455:Iodine