To assess the prevalence of thyroid nodules and their association with cardiometabolic outcomes in the Mongolian population, highlighting the significance of these findings in addressing rising health issues.
Key Findings:
Thyroid nodules were identified in 40.3% of participants (n = 14,651).
Age-adjusted prevalence was 32.1% overall, 19.8% in men, and 39.2% in women.
Higher prevalence of nodules was found in Ulaanbaatar (43.9%) compared to rural areas (35.4%).
Participants with nodules had higher BMI, central obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular risk.
Prevalence was greatest in the very high CVD risk category (60.0% in women, 33.1% in men).
Multivariate models confirmed independent associations between thyroid nodules and age, female sex, obesity, and cardiovascular risk.
Interpretation:
Thyroid nodules are highly prevalent in Mongolia and cluster with adverse cardiometabolic outcomes, potentially serving as a clinical marker of elevated cardiovascular risk, which necessitates public health interventions.
Limitations:
The study was retrospective and may be subject to biases inherent in such designs, potentially affecting the reliability of the findings.
Detailed sonographic characteristics of nodules were not consistently available.
Conclusion:
Future longitudinal studies should explore potential bidirectional pathways between obesity, thyroid nodules, and cardiometabolic disease, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these health concerns.
