Surveys in Areas of High Risk of Iodine Deficiency and Iodine Excess in China, 2012-2014: Current Status and Examination of the Relationship between Urinary Iodine Concentration and Goiter Prevalence in Children Aged 8-10 Years

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to evaluate goiter prevalence and iodine nutritional status in areas with high levels of water iodine; to monitor the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in areas at high risk of IDD; and to compare the prevalence of goiter and urine iodine (UI) concentrations between children living in the two areas.

Methods: Based on surveillance from 2012-2014, we analyzed the concentration of UI and prevalence of goiter in 8-10-year-old children from 12 high-risk IDD provinces, and from 8 provinces and municipalities with excessive water iodine. We calculated goiter prevalence for each UI level according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards and constructed predictive prevalence curves.

Results: The goiter prevalence and median UI of children from areas with high water iodine were not optimal, being above the WHO standards (5% and 100-199 μg/L, respectively), whereas those in high-risk areas fell within the standard. UI and goiter prevalence exhibited a U-shaped relationship in high-risk endemic areas and a parabolic relationship in areas of iodine excess.

Conclusion: Iodine surplus in high-iodine areas leads to high goiter prevalence and UI. However, in high-risk areas, UI was optimal and goiter prevalence met the national criteria for IDD elimination.

Keywords: Endemic goiter; High iodine; Iodine deficiency.