Monitoring the prevalence of thyroid disorders in the adult population of Northeast Germany.
Only a few studies like ours have investigated the effect of long-term stable iodine supply on thyroid disorders in a historically iodine-deficient population, but not with a long follow-up time of 10 years.



Data were derived from two independent population-based cohorts of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-0 [1997-2001] and SHIP-TREND [2008-2012]) comprising 4308 and 4420 subjects, respectively. Diagnosed thyroid disorders were assessed. Thyroid gland dimensions were examined by ultrasound. Levels of serum thyrotropin (TSH) and autoantibodies to thyroperoxidase (anti-TPO Abs) were measured from blood samples.



Median urinary iodine excretion levels decreased from 123.0 μg/l to 112.0 μg/l (p= <0.001) between 2000 and 2010. The prevalence of known thyroid disorders increased from 7.6 % [CI 6.9-8.5] to 18.9 % [CI 17.6-20.1] and of thyroid medication use from 6.2 to 11.1 %. The prevalence of goiter decreased from 35.1 to 29.4 % (p= <0.001), while the prevalence of positive anti-TPO Abs decreased from 3.9 to 2.9 % (p= 0.022). Median serum TSH levels increased from 0.69 mIU/L to 1.19 mIU/L (p= <0.001). Consequently, prevalence of high TSH (mIU/L) increased from 2.6 to 2.9 % (p= 0.452), and low TSH (mIU/L) decreased from 6.6 to 6.4 % (p= 0.737).



The decreased prevalence of iodine-deficient disorders and a stable prevalence of markers of autoimmune thyroid disorders argue for an improved iodine supply of the adult population in Northeast Germany. In contrast, the prevalence of diagnosed thyroid disorders and the intake of thyroid medication increased, although this might be related to inappropriate therapeutic decisions.
Institute for Community Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Walther Rathenau Str. 48, 17475 Greifswald, Germany.|Department of Zoology, Islamia College, Peshawar (CU), Pakistan.
Rehman Mehmood
RM
Khattak
Institute for Community Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Walther Rathenau Str. 48, 17475 Greifswald, Germany.
Till
T
Ittermann
Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany.
Matthias
M
Nauck
Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany.
Harald
H
Below
Institute for Community Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Walther Rathenau Str. 48, 17475 Greifswald, Germany.
Henry
H
Völzke
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology; D007454:Iodides; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000652:urine; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D007454:Iodides; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007455:Iodine; C056658:TPO protein, human; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase
Epidemiology; Monitoring; Prevalence Trend; Thyroid Disorders