Comparison of urinary iodine excretion and goiter survey to determine the prevalence of iodine deficiency
Bhasin, S.K.; Kumar, P.; Dubey, K.K.
Indian Pediatrics 38(8): 901-905
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 11521003 Document Number: 534278
In 1996, a study was conducted among Indian school children to compare the Urinary Iodine Excretion levels with the prevalence of goitre in order to assess the severity of iodine deficiency in Nand Nagri, East Delhi, India. Of 940 school children aged 8-10 years, 59 (6.3%) have grade I goitre, 3 (0.3%) have grade II and 878 (93.4%) did not have any. Of 132 randomly selected children, 53 (40.1%) had normal UIE levels (>10 micro g/dl). In addition, 24 (18.2%) had moderate and 55 (41.7%) had mild iodine deficiencies as indicated by UIE levels at 2-4.9 micro g/dl and 5-9.9 micro g/dl, respectively. Mean and median UIE levels were 9.457 and 8 micro g/dl, respectively. The sensitivity and positive predictive values of the goitre survey were 6.32 and 50.0%, respectively. The findings show that iodine deficiency disorders continue to be a public health problem in some parts of Delhi, as revealed by low UIE levels, despite a declining trend. The regular monitoring of the disease using UIE levels is recommended.