Burden attributable to Iodine deficiency in Iran from 1990 to 2019: findings from Global Burden of Disease study

Iodine is necessary for the synthesis of thyroid hormones which rely on sufficient levels of iodine. Iodine deficiency (ID) gives rise to various diseases. This is the first study presenting the epidemiology of ID in the Iranian population from 1992 to 2019.

This study was performed based on the analysis of global burden of disease (GBD) study data. Epidemiological indices including prevalence, incidence, and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were compared in all provinces located in Iran between 1992 and 2019.

The studies' collective conclusions showed that Iran's age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) for iodine deficiency dropped from 14.76 to 5.92. Additionally, the ASDR for Iodine Deficiency is clearly trending lower for all provinces. The ASDR for iodine deficiency peaked in 1990 in middle-aged people of both sexes. But later in the year, the pattern changed, with males and older age groups in particular reporting a larger ASDR of iodine deficiency.

The findings of this study show that the burden of iodine deficiency disorder has decreased in different provinces, all age and, males, but some provinces and groups still need more regulations to reduce the burden of iodine deficiency.