Thyroid nodules in centenarians: prevalence and relationship to lifestyle characteristics and dietary habits

Abstract

BackgroundThyroid nodules (TNs) are common thyroid lesions in older population. Few studies have focused on the prevalence of TNs and their relationship to lifestyle characteristics and dietary habits in centenarians. The current study aimed at determining the prevalence of TNs in Chinese centenarians by using high-resolution ultrasound (US) equipment and at investigating its relationship to lifestyle characteristics and dietary habits.Participants and methodsThe current study was part of the China Hainan Centenarian Cohort Study that was conducted in Hainan, an iodine-sufficient region in People’s Republic of China. A total of 874 permanent residents aged ≥100 years (mean age =102.8±2.8 years) without any missing data were included in the analysis.ResultsAmong the participants, 649 of them were detected at least one TN under the US examinations. The overall prevalence rate of TNs was 74.3%. The prevalence of TNs was higher in participants who were women, had hypertension, had diabetes, and were underweight compared with their counterparts. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that being female, hypertensive, and diabetic; betel quid consumption; and red meat consumption were independent risk factors, while being underweight and nut consumption were independent protective factors for TNs.ConclusionOur findings indicate that the presence of TNs was highly prevalent in Chinese centenarians, particularly in women. In addition to gender, having hypertension, having diabetes, and being underweight, the presence of TNs was independently associated with betel quid, red meat, and nut consumption. Further prospective studies are warranted to verify these associations in populations from different age strata, races, cultures, and iodine supplementation.

Thyroid nodules: diagnostic evaluation based on thyroid cancer risk assessment

“…The prevalence of thyroid nodules increases with age, from approximately 42% for younger patients (<40 years) to about 76% in the older population (>61 years) when screened by ultrasound 2. In a Chinese centenarian cohort study of 874 people screened with ultrasound, the overall prevalence rate of thyroid nodules was 74% 19…”

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet as a Modifiable Risk Factor for Thyroid Nodular Disease and Thyroid Cancer: Results From a Pilot Study

“…Indeed, rarely the record of the consumption of some single foods, including red meat, and nut intake, alcohol drinking, has been included in the clinical evaluation of thyroid nodular disease (17,18). In particular, Yao et al reported that red meat consumption was an independent risk factor of thyroid nodular disease, while nut consumption was an independent protective factor (18).…”

“…Indeed, rarely the record of the consumption of some single foods, including red meat, and nut intake, alcohol drinking, has been included in the clinical evaluation of thyroid nodular disease (17,18). In particular, Yao et al reported that red meat consumption was an independent risk factor of thyroid nodular disease, while nut consumption was an independent protective factor (18). Some nutritional patterns, together with excessive weight, seem to also play a relevant role in thyroid cancer carcinogenesis, although a clear association between dietary factors and thyroid cancer has not been defined so far (1,19).…”

Prevalence of functional dependence in Chinese centenarians and its relationship with serum vitamin D status

“…Details of this study including sampling strategy and interview procedures have been described elsewhere. 21 , 22 In brief, a total of 1,002 centenarians (180 men and 822 women aged 100 years and over) were interviewed, and blood samples were collected in this study. After excluding 44 participants who failed to provide complete information on physical examinations or blood analyses, 958 subjects (176 men and 782 women) were included in the final analysis.…”