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