Correlates of thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Diabetes is an independent risk factor for thyroid nodules (TNs), however, the influencing factors of TNs have not been fully clarified under the condition of diabetes. We aimed to explore the correlates of TNs in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 1444 Chinese adults with T2D were included. Clinical and biochemical characteristics were collected. The overall prevalence of TNs was 45.6%. Spearman correlation analysis and logistic regression analysis were used successively to analyze the independent correlates of TNs. Results The results from univariate and further logistic regression analyses showed that female (OR: 1.656; 95% CI: 1.255–2.185), age (OR:1.017; 95% CI:1.005–1.030), UA (OR: 0.998; 95% CI: 0.997-1.000), free triiodothyronine (FT3) (OR: 1.400; 95% CI: 1.169–1.675) and peripheral atherosclerosis (PAS) (OR: 1.614; 95% CI: 1.155–2.255) independently correlated with TNs in all patients. Subsequently, stratified by sex and age, the results displayed that FT3 (OR: 1.585 ; 95% CI:1.211–2.073), PAS (OR: 1.759; 95% CI: 1.148–2.695) and duration of diabetes (OR: 1.037; 95% CI: 1.008–1.067) in female while age (OR: 1.020 ; 95% CI: 1.007–1.034) and PAS (OR: 1.802 ; 95% CI: 1.223–2.656) in male, and age (OR: 1.045 ; 95% CI: 1.025–1.065) and female (OR: 1.892; 95% CI: 1.361–2.629) in patients below 60 years old while female (OR: 1.643 ; 95% CI: 1.181–2.284), PAS (OR: 2.077; 95% CI: 1.269–3.401), FT3 (OR: 1.316 ; 95% CI: 1.044–1.661) and magnesium (OR: 7.399; 95% CI: 1.060-51.628 ) over 60 years old, significantly related to TNs. The prevalence of TNs was high in T2D patients. Conclusions The independent correlates of TNs were multifactorial, and there existed differences in different physiological states.