Detection rate and associated factors of thyroid nodules among residents in Qingdao, a coastal city in China

This study aims to investigate the detection rate and associated factors of thyroid nodules among a health checkup population in Qingdao, China, and provide a theoretical basis for intervention. Data for 15,283 healthy examinees, collected from January 2013 to December 2022, including demographic data, physical examinations, and thyroid ultrasonography, were used to determine the presence of thyroid nodules. The epidemiological characteristics and related risk factors of thyroid nodules were revealed through t-tests, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis. The survey showed that the detection rate of thyroid nodules among the examined population was 28.48%, with females having a significantly higher detection rate than males (35.51% vs 21.47%, P = .002). The detection rate of thyroid nodules increased with age. Factors such as high C-reactive protein (CRP), hyperglycemia, hypertension, and smoking history were significantly more common in the male nodule group than in the non-nodule group. In females, abdominal obesity, high CRP, hyperglycemia, and hypertension were significantly associated with the detection of thyroid nodules. Logistic regression analysis indicated that gender, age, CRP, hyperglycemia, and smoking history are independent associated factors for the occurrence of thyroid nodules. The detection rate of thyroid nodules among health checkup participants in coastal areas is relatively high, especially among older women, smokers, those with hyperglycemia, and those with high CRP levels. Therefore, it is recommended to strengthen thyroid health management and monitoring for these related population groups.