Meta-analysis of the Incidence of Thyroid Nodules in China and a Survey on the Incidence of Thyroid Nodules in Fuyu County, Heilongjiang Province

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to understand the incidence of thyroid nodules in China through a metaanalysis and analyze the epidemiology of thyroid nodules in the adult population of Fuyu County, Heilongjiang Province, providing assistance for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods: We searched the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and VIP databases to collect literature published from 2010 to 2021 on the incidence of thyroid nodules in China. Stata 15.1 software was used to estimate the prevalence, and subgroup analyses were performed for age, gender, and blood pressure factors. We also analyzed the health examination data of 10,911 adults in Fuyu County from 2016 to 2020, gathered during the Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital's precision poverty alleviation program "Healthy Prosperity Tour." The prevalence of thyroid nodules in the study population was calculated based on thyroid ultrasound results, and statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0 software. Results: The meta-analysis included a total of 330 studies. The results showed that the overall incidence of thyroid nodules in China was 34.7% [95% CI (32.9%, 36.5%)]. The incidence in males was 30.1% [95% CI (28.2%, 32.1%)], and in females, it was 40.1% [95% CI (27.8%, 42.4%)]. The total incidence of thyroid nodules in the three northeastern provinces (Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning) was 34.8% [95% CI (23.3%, 46.2%)], with a male incidence of 33.2% and a female incidence of 44.5%. The survey in Fuyu County revealed an overall incidence of 48.8% (5322/10911) for thyroid nodules. The female incidence was 53.3% (3937/7390), significantly higher than the male incidence of 39.3% (1385/3521), with statistically significant differences. Logistic regression analysis showed that the final factors included in the regression model were gender and age (P < 0.05), while blood pressure had no significant impact on thyroid nodules (P > 0.05). Discussion: The incidence of thyroid nodules in China is relatively high, 1. Methods