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Sedentary time, insomnia, and weight linked to high-risk thyroid nodules in retrospective cohort

Sedentary time, insomnia, and weight linked to high-risk thyroid nodules in retrospective cohort
Photo by Cht Gsml / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Consider lifestyle factors like sedentary time and insomnia as potential risk markers for high-risk thyroid nodules.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, enrolling 164 patients with thyroid nodules admitted between October 2023 and June 2024. The study aimed to develop a predictive nomogram for high-risk thyroid nodules, comparing a low-to-moderate risk group against a high-risk group. The analysis examined several factors as potential exposures, including sedentary time, insomnia (measured by the Athens Insomnia Scale), elevated weight, dietary diversity score, and nodule diameter.

The main results identified several significant associations. Sedentary time exceeding 2 hours per day was an independent risk factor (OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.276-6.148). Higher Athens Insomnia Scale scores (OR: 1.078, 95% CI: 1.01-1.15) and elevated weight (OR: 1.049, 95% CI: 1.008-1.09) were also independent risk factors. Conversely, a higher dietary diversity score (OR: 0.773, 95% CI: 0.639-0.934) and larger nodule diameter (OR: 0.909, 95% CI: 0.871-0.95) were identified as protective factors. The study did not report specific data on safety, tolerability, or adverse events related to these lifestyle factors.

Key limitations of this study include its retrospective, single-center design, which limits generalizability. The sample size of 164 is relatively small, and the study population was drawn from a specific traditional Chinese medicine hospital, which may not represent broader patient groups. The findings demonstrate associations but cannot establish causality. The practice relevance is restrained; while the identified factors may be useful for risk stratification in similar settings, they should not be interpreted as definitive causal targets for intervention without prospective validation.

Study Details

Study typeCohort
EvidenceLevel 3
PublishedApr 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
BackgroundThyroid nodules are widely regarded as one of the most prevalent endocrine disorders, and high-risk thyroid nodules are gradually gaining attention due to their potential malignancy. Early detection and active intervention are key to improving prognosis. Therefore, establishing a predictive model for assessing the risk of high-risk thyroid nodules is crucial for adjunctive diagnosis.MethodsThe clinical data of patients with thyroid nodules admitted to the Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2023 to June 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System classification, the patients were divided into a low-to-moderate risk group and a high-risk group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of high-risk thyroid nodules, and a nomogram was constructed. Internal validation was conducted using bootstrap resampling methods. The predictive performance of the model was evaluated by comparing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, the calibration curve, and the decision curve.ResultsA total of 164 patients with thyroid nodules were included in this study, with an average age of 42.31 years. Among them, 101 patients (61.59%) were diagnosed as high-risk for thyroid nodules. Dietary diversity score (OR: 0.773, 95% CI = 0.639-0.934) and nodule diameter (OR: 0.909, 95% CI = 0.871-0.95) were protective factors for high-risk thyroid nodules, while sedentary time of more than two hours per day (OR: 2.8, 95% CI = 1.276-6.148), the Athens Insomnia Scale score (OR: 1.078, 95% CI = 1.01-1.15), and elevated weight (OR: 1.049, 95% CI = 1.008-1.09) were independent risk factors (all P
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