Turchyn V. Iodine deficiency and thyroid pathology among children’s population in Northern regions of Ukraine

Object of the study: Prevalence of thyroid pathology among children and adolescents of Ukraine. Aim of the study: Determining the peculiarities of iodine intake in children of different age and gender; estimating the degree of iodine deficiency in Northern regions of Ukraine, affected following the Chornobyl accident. Methods of study and equipment: Epidemiological, clinical, instrumental, biochemical, statistical methods; spectrophotometers, ultrasound device. Theoretical and practical results: The main characteristics of prevalence and incidence of diffuse euthyroid goiter have been determined; the indices of iodine intake among the population resident in areas of Northern Ukraine, affected following the Chornobyl accident, have been established, as well as the level of consumption of iodine-containing preparations. The practical value of the results is as follows. Based on a combined examination of children’s population, performed for the first time in Ukraine owing to WHO and UNICEF support,new data have been obtained on the levels of iodine deficit in Northern regions of Ukraine. These investigations served as a theoretical basis for establishing a State Programme of liquidation of iodine deficit in Ukraine, and allowed Ukraine to be included in European and international programmes. Also, a method has been suggested, of group prevention of iodine-deficient diseases using iodinated water “IODIS” (Declaration Patent 67154 A Ukraine, International Patent Classification A61K33/18. “Method of iodine deficit compensation in children”). Novelty: For the first time, a method of iodine determination in urine to estimate the degree of iodine deficiency has been applied; a high incidence of cases of diffuse euthyroid goiter has been reported among children’s population of towns and villages of Northern Ukraine; the degree of iodine deficiency has been estimated according to WHO criteria in different areas affected following the Chornobyl accident. Degree of introduction: the results of investigationsmay be applied to perform mass and group prevention with the aim of liquidation of iodine-deficient diseases. Field of application: Endocrinology, epidemiology, preventive medicine.