An Exploration of the Association between Goiter and Type 2 Diabetes Leveraging the CHNS Database

Aims The comorbidity of multiple diseases is receiving growing attention, and the coexistence of goiter and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an important one. Thus, this study aims to utilize the widely representative China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) database for relevant investigations. Methods Covariates had potential association with T2DM were obtained from the database. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of goiter with T2DM. Additionally, the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) and smooth curves were drawn for investigating the linear correlation between goiter and T2DM, as well as the potential prediction value of goiter on T2DM risk. Results Among 10,148 eligible participants, 2,109 had T2DM and 155 had goiter. After adjusting for covariates, a positive association between goiter and increased risk of T2DM was observed (odds ratio [OR] = 2.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–4.81). The smooth curve showed that there is a nonlinear association between goiter and T2DM. Additionally, there was a potential prediction value of goiter on the risk of T2DM, with the area under the curve (AUC) of ROC curve of 0.809. Conclusion This study identified an association between goiter and T2DM, and however, the causal relationship between them and specific mechanisms needs further clarification.