title: Observations on factors that influence thyroid nodules in diabetic and non-diabetic patients in the Zhejiang province of China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To determine the incidence of diabetes and thyroid nodules and factors influencing them.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was used for the epidemiological investigation of metabolic disorders, especially diabetes. Thyroid hormones and other indicator levels as well as ultrasound examinations were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 842 cases, 43 had diabetes, with an incidence rate of 5.1%, while 799 cases were non-diabetic, accounting for 94.9%. The incidence rate of thyroid nodules was 81.4% (35/43) in diabetic patients and 70.7% (565/799) in non-diabetic patients. Statistical analysis showed that the pathogenesis of thyroid was not obviously associated with diabetes. A further analysis of clinical features and thyroid nodules in diabetic patients revealed that the morbidity of thyroid nodules was correlated with age but had no relation to gender. The incidence of thyroid nodules was 92.9% in patients > 60 years. The morbidity of thyroid nodules was not only associated with age but also gender in non-diabetic patients, with a relatively high probability in female patients > 60 years. Logistic regression analysis revealed that follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were risk factors for developing thyroid nodules in all subjects; for males aged > 60 years, TSH and thyroxine were risk factors; for female subjects, FSH, TSH and GPT were the main factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetes is not a risk factor for thyroid nodules but an age > 60 years is an important factor for high morbidity of thyroid nodules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shaoxing Shangyu People's Hospital No. 517 Shimin Road, Baiguang Town, Shaoxing 312300, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Weiping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.affiliation: Center of Nephrology, Shaoxing Shangyu People's Hospital No. 517 Shimin Road, Baiguang Town, Shaoxing 312300, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Gengsheng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shaoxing Shangyu People's Hospital No. 517 Shimin Road, Baiguang Town, Shaoxing 312300, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Shuifen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shaoxing Shangyu People's Hospital No. 517 Shimin Road, Baiguang Town, Shaoxing 312300, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Jimei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shaoxing Shangyu People's Hospital No. 517 Shimin Road, Baiguang Town, Shaoxing 312300, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Jiangsu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
keywords: Diabetes; morbidity; thyroid nodule