Objectives: To evaluate the association between thyroid autoantibodies and abnormalities in thyroid function and structure, and to investigate any risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in Chengdu residents !18 years with no previous thyroid disease. The study participants provided demographic and clinical data. Thyroid function and serum concentrations of the thyroid autoantibodies antithyroperoxidase antibody (TPOAb) and antithyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) were measured. Results: A total of 1334 subjects were included in this study. The prevalence of TPOAb and TgAb positivity was significantly higher in female than in male subjects. The prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in those with subclinical hypothyroidism and clinical hyper-and hypothyroidism was significantly greater than in euthyroid subjects. The concentration of TPOAb and TgAb in subjects with both TPOAb and TgAb was significantly higher than in those who exhibited only one type of thyroid autoantibody. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, female sex, thyroid volume, thyroid hypo-and heteroechogenicity were found to be risk factors for the presence of autoantibodies. Conclusions: Thyroid autoantibodies were common in the general population. Women with thyroid enlargement, hypoechogenicity and heteroechogenicity might benefit from routine screening for thyroid autoantibodies and thyroid function.

Subclinical thyroid diseases, especially subclinical hypothyroidism and thyroid nodules, are common in an iodine sufficient area. Females and the elderly might benefit from routine screening for thyroid diseases, followed by appropriate detection and treatment.

BackgroundCommunity health service center (CHSC) in China is always regarded as a good facility of primary care, which plays an important role in chronic non-communicable disease management. This study aimed to investigate the blood pressure (BP) control rate in a real life CHSC-based management program and its determinants.MethodsThe study enrolled 3191 patients (mean age of 70 ± 10 years, 43% males) in a hypertension management program provided by the Yulin CHSC (Chengdu, China), which had been running for 9 years. Uncontrolled BP was defined as the systolic BP of ≥140 mmHg and/or the diastolic BP of ≥90 mmHg, and its associated factors were analyzed by using logistic regression.ResultsThe duration of stay in the program was 33 ± 25 months. When compared with the BP at entry, the recent BP was significantly lowered (147 ± 17 vs. 133 ± 8 mmHg; 83 ± 11 vs. 75 ± 6 mmHg) and the BP control rate was dramatically increased (32 vs. 85%) (all p < 0.001). The age of >70 years [1.40 (odds ratio), 1.15-1.71 (95% confidence interval)], female gender (0.76, 0.63-0.93), longer stay of >33 months (0.77, 0.63-0.94), doctor in charge (0.97, 0.95-0.99), and the use of calcium channel blocker (1.35, 1.09-1.67) were significantly related to uncontrolled BP at the recent follow up (all p < 0.05).ConclusionsThis CHSC-run hypertension program provides an ideal platform of multi-intervention management, which is effective in achieving higher BP control rate in community patient population. However, the BP control status could be affected by age, gender and adherence of the patients, as well as practice behavior of the doctors.

Suboptimal BP control status in hypertensive patients is related to a further reduction of LA myocardial function assessed by the novel 2DSTI free strain, and suboptimal BP might be regarded as a composite risk factor and therefore a simplified treatment target. However, the prognostic value of LA free strain in patients with inability to achieve the BP target needs to be evaluated in future prospective studies.