Prevalenza di gozzo e ioduria nella popolazione della scuola dell'obbligo in un'area dell'Appennino bolognese

We evaluated goiter prevalence and urinary iodine excretion (UIE) in schoolchildren living in three villages of the Appennines in the Bologna district - Castel d'Aiano (CA), Gaggio Montano (GM) and Pietracolora (PC). 175 age-matched schoolchildren living in the urban area of Bologna were considered as control group. In the control area the presence of goiter was documented in 11 out of 175 subjects (6.3%). In the mountain area the presence of goiter was documented in 42 out of 233 subjects (18%) (p < 0.0001 vs control area). In the urban control area the UIE was 159 μg/l (median; range 19-298). In the mountain area the UIE was 119 μg/1 (median; range 10-286) (p < 0.001 vs control area). We observed the highest prevalence of goiter and UIE levels < 100 μg/l only in the village of PC, which is still characterized by geographical isolation and rural economy.