Epidemiological study of the effects of smoking cigarette on thyroid gland

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of cigarette smoking on thyroid gland volume, thyroid function and thyroid autoantibodies in the areas with different iodine intakes. METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological study in Panshan (mild iodine-deficient area), Zhangwu (more than adequate iodine intake area) and Huanghua (iodine-excessive area) was conducted in 3761 subjects in 1999.80.2 % of them were followed up in 2004. Questionnaires, thyroid function, thyroid autoantibodies, urinary iodine concentration,and thyroid B ultrasound were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of goiter was higher in smokers than in non-smokers (15.1% vs. 11.5%, P 100 IU/ml) was higher in smokers than in non-smokers(10.8% vs. 9.0 % , P ,100 IU/ml) was 7.4% in the subjects that were from non-smokers turning to smokers and 2.9% in those whose smoking behavior did not change. Logistic analysis indicated that the shifting from non-smoking to smoking was independent risk factor for the increase on high incidence of positive TPOAb. CONCLUSION: Smoking cigarette was a independent risk factor of goiter. Smoking was also a risk factor of increasing TPOAb positive rate. Shifting from not smoking to smoking was an independent risk factor of increasing high incidence of positive TPOAb.