title: Relationship of anthropometric measurements to thyroid nodules in a Chinese population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have found that overweight and obesity are related to numerous diseases, including thyroid cancer and thyroid volume. This study evaluates the relationship between body size and the presence of thyroid nodules in a Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 6793 adults and 2410 children who underwent thyroid ultrasonography were recruited in this cross-sectional study in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, from March to October, 2010. Sociodemographic characteristics and potential risk factors of thyroid nodules were collected by questionnaire. Height and weight were measured using standard protocols. Associations of height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA) with the presence of thyroid nodules were evaluated using multiple logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for potential risk factors, an increased risk of thyroid nodule incidence was associated with height (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.30), weight (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.58), BMI (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.42) and BSA (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.62) in all adults, but most obviously in women. In children, similar associations were observed between risk of thyroid nodule incidence and weight, BMI and BSA, but not height. BSA was the measurement most significantly associated with thyroid nodules in both adults and children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identified that the presence of thyroid nodules was positively associated with weight, height, BMI and BSA in both women and girls. It suggests that tall, obese individuals have increased susceptibility to thyroid nodules.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT01838629.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Weimin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Health Statistics, School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Zexin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Shangcheng Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Health Statistics, School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Liangliang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.affiliation: Department of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Yangmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Xingyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Sujuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Health Statistics, School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Shanchun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Health Statistics, School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Yunxian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGY; STATISTICS & RESEARCH METHODS