Major stress as a predictive value in the setting of thyroid nodule development: A prospective study

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Oncology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Thyroid nodules (TN) represent abnormal thyroid cell growth with increasing global incidence.
• Understanding demographic and environmental factors is crucial for predicting TN risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate demographic and environmental factors associated with thyroid nodule incidence.
• To identify prognostic risk factors for predicting the likelihood of developing thyroid nodules.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 103 patients with confirmed TN and 101 controls.
• Data collected via checklist from February 2021 to August 2022.
• Uni- and multivariable logistic analyses were employed to identify risk factors.

Main Results:

• TN prevalence was significantly higher in females (90.3%).
• Key risk factors identified include ionizing radiation exposure (83.5%), family history of thyroid disease (58.3%), and unusual stress (68.9%).
• Hypothyroidism (37.9%), hyperthyroidism (7.8%), and thyroid-affecting medications (10.7%) were also associated with TN.

Conclusions:

• Unusual stress plays a significant role in thyroid nodule development.
• Early diagnosis and management of risk factors like stress, through lifestyle changes and awareness, can help reduce TN incidence.
• Screening individuals with a family history of thyroid disease is recommended for predisposed populations.