Clinically evident thyroid gland disorders in Lublin Region.

The authors tried to assess the prevalence of thyroid gland pathology in Lublin and the Lublin Region population over 35 years old. The study was performed a few years after introduction of iodine prophylaxis in Poland. In our study we still found high prevalence of goitre--about 12% in town and rural population. A very low rate of diagnosed and treated patients with clinically evident thyroid gland pathology was observed in countryside area. Our data confirm the known phenomenon of considerably higher prevalence of thyroid gland diseases in females. Decrease of prevalence of hyperthyroidism in recent years but still low prevalence of overt hypothyroidism are characteristic of a temporary period from moderate iodine deficiency to sufficient iodine intake.