Supplementary Table S1: Characteristics of the Studies Included in the Systematic Review

Supplementary table S1: Characteristics of the studies included in the systematic review and the meta-analysis.

Author (s) / Location / Time of study / Participants / Age range (y) / Number of participants / Number of Females / Number of Males / Goiter (%) Female / Goiter (%) Male / Iodine status / Method / Other covariates included
Aminzadeh M et al1 / Iran-Ahvaz / 2008 / Primary school children / 7-11 / 1,594 / 760 / 834 / 4.19 / 4.43 / S-S / Palpation
MozafariKhosravi H et al2 / Iran-Khaatam / 2008 / Primary school children / 6-11 / 530 / 276 / 254 / 27.9 / 30.3 / S-S / Palpation
Moradhaseli F et al3 / Iran-Bushehr / 2007 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,247 / 634 / 613 / 0.54 / 1.90 / S-S / Ultrasonography
Delshad H et al4 / Iran-Ghazvin province / 2007 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 1.1 / 0.6 / S-S / Palpation
Delshad H et al5 / Iran-Kermanshah province / 2007 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 14.5 / 7.2 / S-S / Palpation
Azizi F et al6 / Iran-Yazd province / 2007 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 5.7 / 7 / S-S / Palpation
Delshad H et al7 / Iran-Tehran / 2007 / School children / 7-15 / 464 / 226 / 238 / 2 / 2.6 / S-S / Palpation & Ultrasonography
Delshad H et al8 / Iran-Tehran / 2007 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 2 / 2.3 / S-S / Palpation
Erdogan MF et al9 / Turkey-Ankara / 2007 / Primary school children / 9-11 / 300 / 153 / 147 / 1.62 / 1.60 / I-S / Ultrasonography
Dobert N et al10 / Germany / 2006 / Voluntarily employees / 19-63 / 700 / 345 / 355 / 10.59 / 17.23 / I-I / Ultrasonography / TPOAb
Sethy PGS et al11 / India-Bhubaneswar / 2006 / Primary school children / 6-12 / 1,248 / 619 / 629 / 23.6 / 23.7 / I-I / Palpation
Chandra AK et al12 / India-West Bengal–Howrah / 2006 / School children / 6-12 / 1,627 / 813 / 814 / 40.43 / 36.43 / I-S / Palpation
Das DK et al13 / India-West Bengal-Howrah / 2006 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 2,400 / 1,152 / 1,248 / 15.52 / 12.02 / I-S / Palpation
Aminorroaya A et al14 / Iran-Isfahan / 2006 / Random selected residents / 20-86 / 2,523 / 1,248 / 1,275 / 28.8 / 9.2 / S-S / Palpation / TSH
Sanjari M et al15 / Iran-Kerman / 2006 / Primary school children / 9-11 / 5,380 / 1,980 / 3,400 / 34.8 / 34.8 / S-S / Palpation
Gatseva P et al16 / Bulgaria-Pazardjik / 2005 / School children / 8-15 / 483 / 209 / 274 / 19.62 / 13.5 / I-S / Palpation
Vejbjerg P et al17 / Denmark-Aalborg / 2005 / Random selected residents / 18-65 / 1,785 / 1,431 / 354 / 15.69 / 17 / I-I / Ultrasonography
Vejbjerg P et al17 / Denmark-Copenhagen / 2005 / Random selected residents / 18-65 / 1,785 / 1,431 / 354 / 10.2 / 9.3 / I-I / Ultrasonography
Kaloumenou I et al18 / Greece-Athens / 2005 / School children / 5-18 / 440 / 240 / 200 / 18.94 / 25.8 / S-S / Ultrasonography / TSH, TPOAb
Seifhashemi M et al19 / Iran-Semnan / 2005 / Primary school children / 6-12 / 9,708 / 4,677 / 5,031 / 4.1 / 3 / S-S / Palpation
NafisiMoghadam R et al20 / Iran-Yazd / 2005 / Random selected residents / 18-60 / 314 / 208 / 106 / 0 / 0 / S-S / Ultrasonography
Heydon EE et al21 / Nepal-khumbu Region / 2005 / Random selected residents / 2-90 / 215 / 115 / 100 / 20 / 43 / I-I / Palpation
Biswas AB et al22 / India-West Bengal-Purulia / 2005 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 2,400 / 1,144 / 1,256 / 27.36 / 24.52 / I-I / Palpation
Volzke H et al23 / Germany-Pomerania / 2004 / Random selected residents / 20-79 / 3,915 / 1,884 / 2,031 / 33.9 / 38.2 / S-S / Ultrasonography / Parity, Smoking
Kapil U et al24 / India-Kangra / 2004 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 6,939 / 3,317 / 3,622 / 19.2 / 20.3 / S-S / Palpation
Bazrafshan HR et al25 / Iran-Gorgan / 2004 / Primary school children / 7-11 / 1,400 / 500 / 900 / 34.6 / 21.9 / S-S / Palpation / TSH ,TPOAb
Sadegholvad AS et al26 / Iran-Marvdasht / 2004 / School children / 8-13 / 1,188 / 590 / 598 / 40.1 / 39 / S-S / Palpation / TSH
Kachooei A et al27 / Iran-Semirom / 2004 / School children / 8-12 / 1,817 / 834 / 983 / 38.6 / 35.1 / S-S / Palpation
Svensson J et al28 / Sweden-Malmo / 2004 / School children / 7-18 / 561 / 297 / 267 / 2.15 / 5.15 / S-S / Ultrasonography
Ozkan B et al29 / Turkey-Yusufeli / 2004 / School children / 7-14 / 250 / 124 / 126 / 78.22 / 82 / I-I / Ultrasonography
Oberlin O et al30 / Afghanistan-Gulbahar / 2003 / School children / 0-15 / 224 / 114 / 110 / 48.24 / 43.22 / I-I / Palpation
Marwaha RK et al31 / India / 2003 / School children / 6-18 / 14,762 / 8,260 / 6,502 / 27.1 / 17.8 / S-S / Palpation
Heinisch M et al32 / Austria-Carinthia / 2002 / Voluntarily inhabitants / 10-90 / 430 / 242 / 188 / 22.73 / 15.94 / S-S / Ultrasonography
Reiners C et al33 / Germany / 2002 / Voluntarily employees / 18-65 / 83,757 / 45,145 / 38,612 / 25.63 / 27.27 / S-S / Ultrasonography
Brauer VFH et al34 / Germany-Leipzig / 2002 / Random selected residents and employees / 20-60 / 172 / 151 / 21 / 51.66 / 52.36 / S-S / Ultrasonography
Brauer VFH et al35 / Germany-Leipzig / 2002 / Random selected residents / 20-60 / 708 / 576 / 132 / 12 / 7 / S-S / Ultrasonography
Farahati J et al36 / Germany-West Part-Essen and Muelheim / 2002 / Healthy employees / 18-68 / 853 / 370 / 483 / 22.7 / 26.15 / S-S / Ultrasonography / Parity, Smoking
Shahbazian H et al37 / Iran-Ahvaz / 2002 / Primary school children / 6-10 / 1,800 / 855 / 945 / 43.5 / 35.9 / S-S / Palpation
MozafariKhosravi H et al38 / Iran-Yazd / 2002 / Primary school children / 6-11 / 1,989 / 622 / 1,367 / 41 / 39.9 / S-S / Palpation
Fuse Y et al39 / Japan-Tokyo / 2002 / School children / 6-12 / 654 / 317 / 337 / 1.82 / 3.99 / S-S / Ultrasonography
Pathmeswaran A et al40 / Sri Lanka / 2002 / School children / 9-15 / 2,528 / 1,177 / 1,351 / 4.84 / 1.7 / I-S / Palpation
Darcan S et al41 / Turkey-West Coasts / 2002 / School children / 6-12 / 2,267 / 1,123 / 1,144 / 35.15 / 37.7 / I-I / Ultrasonography
Azizi F et al42 / United Arab Emirates / 2002 / School children / 6-17 / 4,381 / 2,210 / 2,171 / 38.2 / 21.4 / I-S / Palpation & Ultrasonography
Rossi A et al43 / Brazil / 2001 / School children / 6-14 / 1,788 / 958 / 830 / 2.99 / 5.38 / I-S / Ultrasonography
Rendle J et al44 / Germany-Wurzburg / 2001 / School children / 7-17 / 591 / 268 / 323 / 3.54 / 5.8 / I-S / Ultrasonography
Biswas AB et al45 / India-West Bengal-Malda / 2001 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 2,392 / 1,252 / 1,140 / 11.9 / 10.7 / I-S / Palpation
Saito T et al46 / Indonesia-Bali / 2001 / Random selected residents / 17-40 / 153 / 71 / 82 / 29.6 / 13.4 / I-I / Palpation
Azizi F et al47 / Iran / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 33,600 / 16,721 / 16,879 / 12.9 / 14.9 / S-S / Palpation & Ultrasonography
Monajemzadeh SM et al48 / Iran-Ahvaz / 2001 / School children / 11-16 / 1,950 / 900 / 1050 / 11.1 / 4.4 / I-S / Palpation
Hedayati M et al49 / Iran-Ardabilprovince / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 10.7 / 7.9 / S-S / Palpation
Mehran L et al50 / Iran-ChaharMahalBakhtyari / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 15.4 / 21.4 / S-S / Palpation
Azizi F et al51 / Iran-Guilan / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 8.7 / 13.6 / S-S / Palpation
Azizi F et al52 / Iran-Hamadan province / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 15.8 / 20.2 / S-S / Palpation
Mehran L et al53 / Iran-Ilam / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 11.6 / 14.7 / S-S / Palpation
Azizi F et al54 / Iran-Isfahan province / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 5.1 / 5.9 / S-S / Palpation
Sheikholeslam R et al55 / Iran-Kerman Province / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 28 / 35.2 / S-S / Palpation
Mirmiran P et al56 / Iran-Kermanshah Province / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,400 / 700 / 700 / 22.8 / 23 / S-S / Palpation
Hedayati M et al57 / Iran-KohgilooyeBooyer Ahmad / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 6.5 / 8.7 / S-S / Palpation
Padyab M et al58 / Iran-Lorestan province / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 7.8 / 7.7 / S-S / Palpation
Naghavi M et al59 / Iran-Markazi province / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 4.4 / 4.4 / S-S / Palpation
Azizi F et al60 / Iran-Mazandaran province / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 4 / 4 / S-S / Palpation
Sheikholeslam R et al61 / Iran-Qom province / 2001 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 24.3 / 27.7 / S-S / Palpation
Mirmiran P et al62 / Iran-Semnan province / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 17.7 / 16.3 / S-S / Palpation
Padyab M et al63 / Iran-Sistan and Balouchestan province / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 31.2 / 35.3 / S-S / Palpation
Delshad H et al64 / Iran-Tehran province / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 3.5 / 6.3 / S-S / Palpation
Sheikholeslam R et al65 / Iran-Western Azarbayejan / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 6.7 / 7.8 / S-S / Palpation
MozafariKhosravi H et al66 / Iran-Yazd Province / 2001 / Primary school children / 6-11 / 4,755 / 1,807 / 2,948 / 41.8 / 40.3 / S-S / Palpation
Azizi F et al67 / Iran-Zanjan province / 2001 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 1,200 / 600 / 600 / 22.5 / 16.8 / S-S / Palpation
Rago T et al68 / Italy-Pisa / 2001 / Healthy volunteers / 20-80 / 482 / 256 / 226 / 0.12 / 0.04 / I-S / Ultrasonography
Zimmermann MB et al69 / Multicenter (Bahrain-Japan-Peru-South Africa-Switzerland-United States of America) / 2001 / School children / 6-12 / 3,529 / 1,765 / 1,764 / 0.05 / 0.29 / S-S / Ultrasonography
Gomez JM et al70 / Spain-Barcelona / 2001 / Random selected residents / 15-70 / 268 / 134 / 134 / 0 / 0.04 / I-S / Ultrasonography / TSH
Brahmbhatt S et al71 / India-Gujarat / 2000 / School children / 6-15 / 530 / 247 / 283 / 88.53 / 94.62 / I-I / Ultrasonography / TSH
SoleimaniZadeh L et al72 / Iran-Bandar Abbas / 2000 / School children / 6-20 / 2,200 / 938 / 1,262 / 20.58 / 12.68 / I-S / Palpation
Salimi GH et al73 / Iran-Kermanshah / 2000 / Primary school children / 7-11 / 637 / 312 / 325 / 14.1 / 15.4 / S-S / Palpation
Asadikaram GH et al74 / Iran-Rafsanjaan / 2000 / School children / 6-18 / 201 / 92 / 109 / 55.6 / 71.6 / S-S / Palpation
Semiz S et al75 / Turkey-Antalya Region / 2000 / Primary school children / 6-11 / 605 / 304 / 301 / 54.94 / 56.85 / I-I / Ultrasonography
Moosa K et al767 / Bahrain / 1999 / Primary school children / 8-12 / 1,600 / 800 / 800 / 0.99 / 2.26 / S-S / Palpation
Toromanovic A et al77 / Bosnia-Herzegovina- Tuzla Canton / 1999 / Primary school children / 7-15 / 2,433 / 1,229 / 1,204 / 19.8 / 18.4 / I-I / Palpation
Mohapatra SSS et al78 / India-Bargarh district / 1999 / Primary school children / 6-10 / 3,088 / 1,530 / 1,558 / 12 / 9.7 / I-I / Palpation
Azizi F et al47 / Iran / 1999 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 796 / 400 / 396 / 0.26 / 1.86 / I-S / Ultrasonography
Delshad H et al79 / Iran-Tehran / 1999 / School children / 6-15 / 1,186 / 583 / 603 / 45.09 / 39.38 / I-S / Palpation & Ultrasonography
Foo LC et al80 / Malaysia / 1999 / Primary school children / 7-10 / 7,410 / 3,406 / 4,004 / 0.44 / 0.9 / S-S / Ultrasonography
Fuse Y et al81 / Mongolia-UlaanBaatar / 1999 / School children / 10-12 / 205 / 98 / 107 / 16.3 / 29.8 / I-S / Ultrasonography
Szybinski Z et al82 / Poland / 1999 / School children / 6-15 / 884 / 466 / 418 / 6.32 / 7.49 / I-I / Ultrasonography
Smyth PPA et al83 / Senegal-Casamance Region / 1999 / Random selected residents / 20-60 / 160 / 97 / 63 / 83.1 / 52.3 / I-I / Ultrasonography
Maravall FJ et al84 / Spain-Barcelona / 1999 / Random selected residents / 15-70 / 268 / 134 / 134 / 0 / 0 / S-S / Ultrasonography / TSH, TPOAb
Abuye C85 / Ethiopia-Gamo-Gofa / 1998 / School children & their parents / 6-60 / 1,791 / 795 / 996 / 66.84 / 39.55 / I-S / Palpation
Gakkhar RK86 / India-Jabalpur district / 1998 / School children / 6-15 / 1,205 / 405 / 800 / 3.2 / 1.6 / S-S / Palpation
Djokomoeljanto P et al87 / Indonesia-Java / 1998 / School children / 6-12 / 2,662 / 1,374 / 1,288 / 6.45 / 6.3 / I-S / Ultrasonography
AlaviNaeini SM et al88 / Iran-Ilam / 1998 / School children / 6-14 / 670 / 296 / 374 / 54.23 / 43.06 / I-S / Palpation
Erdogan G et al89 / Turkey-Northern Cyprus / 1998 / Primary school children / 9-10 / 625 / 308 / 317 / 0.67 / 4.11 / S-S / Ultrasonography
Zein AZ90 / Yemen / 1998 / Primary school children / 6-12 / 2,984 / 981 / 2,003 / 14.1 / 18.1 / I-I / Palpation
Liesenkotter KP et al91 / Germany-Berlin / 1997 / Random selected children / 3-15 / 1,080 / 552 / 528 / 4.93 / 1.98 / I-S / Ultrasonography
Honarpisheh A et al92 / Iran-Kashan Area / 1997 / School children / 6-12 / 1,400 / 707 / 693 / 28 / 22.5 / I-S / Palpation
Sadr SF et al 93 / Iran-Kashan Area / 1997 / School children / 6-18 / 3,130 / 1,480 / 1,650 / 40.9 / 59.1 / I-S / Palpation
Andalibi P et al 94 / Iran-Sanandaj / 1997 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 168 / 72 / 96 / 52.8 / 25 / I-S / Palpation
Dehghani A et al 95 / Iran-Yazd / 1997 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 299 / 162 / 137 / 53.1 / 66.4 / I-S / Palpation
Skeaff SA et al96 / New Zealand / 1997 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 300 / 150 / 150 / 7.81 / 14.75 / I-I / Ultrasonography
Erdogan G et al97 / Turkey / 1997 / Primary school children / 9-11 / 1,226 / 604 / 622 / 36.08 / 45.42 / I-I / Ultrasonography
El-Sayed NA98 / Egypt-Upper region / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 6,750 / 3,375 / 3,375 / 35.9 / 33.3 / I-I / Palpation
Wiersinga WM et al99 / Germany / 1996 / School children / 6-18 / 937 / 529 / 408 / 1.97 / 1.62 / S-S / Palpation
Sheikholeslam R et al100 / Iran-Bushehr province / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,400 / 700 / 700 / 56 / 50 / I-S / Palpation
Azizi F et al101 / Iran-Fars province / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,350 / 675 / 675 / 69.5 / 66.5 / I-S / Palpation
Azizi F et al102 / Iran-Guilan province / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,350 / 675 / 675 / 72 / 72 / I-S / Palpation
Azizi F et al103 / Iran-Hamadan province / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,300 / 650 / 650 / 92.62 / 79.38 / I-S / Palpation
Rezvanian H et al104 / Iran-Isfahan- Dehaghan / 1996 / School children / 6-18 / 842 / 421 / 421 / 85.6 / 82.8 / I-S / Palpation
Delshad H et al105 / Iran-Kerman province / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,350 / 675 / 675 / 58.5 / 59.5 / I-S / Palpation
HabibiMoeini AS et al106 / Iran-Kermanshah province / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,400 / 700 / 700 / 80 / 77 / I-S / Palpation
Azizi F et al107 / Iran-Khoozestan province / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,300 / 650 / 650 / 59 / 57 / I-S / Palpation
Azizi F et al108 / Iran-Khorasan province / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,400 / 700 / 700 / 46 / 34 / I-S / Palpation
Hajipour R et al109 / Iran-Kurdistan province / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,400 / 700 / 700 / 70 / 63 / I-S / Palpation
Azizi F et al110 / Iran-Markazi province / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,300 / 650 / 650 / 36 / 34 / I-S / Palpation
Mirmiran P et al111 / Iran-Semnan province / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,350 / 675 / 675 / 52 / 45 / I-S / Palpation
Azizi F et al112 / Iran-SistanBalouchestan / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 2,500 / 1,250 / 1,250 / 24 / 23 / I-S / Palpation
Salar Kia N et al113 / Iran-Tehran / 1996 / Primary school children / 6-10 / 931 / 533 / 398 / 78 / 76 / I-S / Palpation
Salar Kia N et al114 / Iran-Tehran / 1996 / Random selected residents / 6-60 / 5,140 / 3,111 / 2,029 / 88 / 82 / I-S / Palpation
Azizi F et al115 / Iran-Tehran province / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,360 / 522 / 838 / 56.32 / 50.12 / I-S / Palpation
Delshad H et al116 / Iran-Yazd province / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,400 / 700 / 700 / 53.5 / 41.5 / I-S / Palpation
Sheikholeslam R et al117 / Iran-Zanjan province / 1996 / Primary school children / 8-10 / 1,400 / 700 / 700 / 57 / 45 / I-S / Palpation
Costante G118 / Italy-Calabrian region / 1996 / School children / 6-14 / 13,984 / 6,812 / 7,172 / 42.61 / 27.26 / I-I / Palpation
Franke D119 / Ivory Coast-Glanle / 1996 / Voluntarily inhabitants / 6-70 / 1,116 / 620 / 496 / 64.7 / 53.3 / I-I / Palpation
Fuse Y et al81 / Mongolia-UlaanBaatar / 1996 / Primary school children / 10-12 / 292 / 136 / 156 / 29.39 / 55.08 / I-S / Ultrasonography
Mekonen E et al120 / Ethiopia-Sekota / 1995 / Random selected residents / 0-80 / 4,200 / 2,102 / 2,098 / 33.16 / 12.35 / I-I / Palpation
Derumeaux H et al121 / France / 1995 / Random selected residents / 35-60 / 1,900 / 1,108 / 792 / 3.34 / 6.9 / I-I / Ultrasonography
Delshad H et al 122 / Iran-Hamedan Province / 1995 / School children / 7-18 / 16,054 / 7,792 / 8,262 / 47.38 / 39.74 / I-S / Palpation
Setoudehmaram E et al123 / Iran-Khorramabad / 1995 / Primary school children / 6-10 / 1,859 / 927 / 932 / 71.9 / 60.8 / I-S / Palpation
AsadiKaram GH et al 124 / Iran-Rafsanjaan / 1995 / Primary school children / 6-12 / 320 / 158 / 162 / 87.34 / 81.47 / I-S / Palpation
Navai L et al 125 / Iran-Shahriar / 1995 / Random selected residents / 0-60 / 3,164 / 1,843 / 1,321 / 51 / 40 / I-S / Palpation
Biassoni P126 / Central African Republic-Ouhampende province / 1994 / Voluntarily inhabitants / 6-60 / 222 / 115 / 107 / 26.1 / 7.5 / I-I / Palpation
Knudson N et al127 / Denmark-Copenhagen / 1994 / Random selected residents / 41-71 / 2,605 / 1,283 / 1,322 / 13.33 / 6.2 / I-I / Ultrasonography
Konde M et al128 / Guinea-Fouta Djallon / 1994 / Random selected residents / 20-60 / 390 / 210 / 180 / 80.3 / 57.7 / I-I / Palpation
Kharrazi H et al129 / Iran-Kermanshah province / 1994 / Random selected residents / 0-80 / 1,837 / 919 / 918 / 84.1 / 65.4 / I-I / Palpation
Mirmiran P et al130 / Iran-Sangan / 1994 / School children / 7-16 / 158 / 86 / 72 / 98 / 89 / I-I / Palpation
Sadeghipour HR et al131 / Iran-Tehran / 1994 / School children / 7-18 / 2400 / 1,200 / 1,200 / 62 / 63.69 / I-S / Palpation
Loviselli A et al132 / Italy-Sardinia / 1994 / School children / 6-15 / 8,040 / 3,846 / 4,194 / 24.4 / 18.3 / I-I / Palpation
Yusuf HK et al133 / Bangladesh / 1993 / Random selected residents / 5-44 / 30,072 / 15,036 / 15,036 / 53.01 / 40.87 / I-I / Palpation
Jaksic J et al 134 / Croatia-Sibenik / 1993 / School children / 11-17 / 5,462 / 2,801 / 2,661 / 4.9 / 0.6 / S-S / Palpation
Wolde-Gebriel Z et al135 / Ethiopia-Shoa region / 1992 / School children / 6-10 / 14,740 / 5,961 / 8,779 / 42.2 / 26.2 / I-I / Palpation
Mostafavi H et al136 / Iran-Mamasani / 1992 / School children / 6-18 / 2,400 / 1,200 / 1,200 / 87.7 / 86.9 / I-I / Palpation
Elnagar B et al137 / Sudan-Darfur-Soja / 1990 / Random selected residents / 0-60 / 1,802 / 1,207 / 595 / 84 / 70.6 / I-I / Palpation
Hubaveshki S et al138 / Bulgaria / 1989 / Random selected residents / 0-80 / 4,786 / 2,901 / 1,885 / 31.32 / 14.4 / I-I / Palpation
Mirmiran P et al130 / Iran-Sangan / 1989 / School children / 7-16 / 84 / 37 / 47 / 97 / 100 / I-I / Palpation / TSH
HedayatiEmami MH et al139 / Iran-Guilan-Rasht / 1987 / School children / 6-18 / 4,077 / 2,529 / 1,548 / 86 / 83 / I-I / Palpation
HedayatiEmami MH et al139 / Iran-Guilan-Sangar / 1987 / School children / 6-18 / 2,014 / 932 / 1,082 / 92 / 90 / I-I / Palpation
Stewart AG et al140 / Pakistan-Baltistan-North region / 1986 / Random selected residents / 0-60 / 1,896 / 1,077 / 819 / 73.35 / 34.48 / I-I / Palpation
Stewart AG et al140 / Pakistan-Baltistan-South region / 1986 / Random selected residents / 0-60 / 4,321 / 2,456 / 1,865 / 53.83 / 25.2 / I-I / Palpation
Cho-New Oo et al141 / Burma-Irrawaddy / 1982 / Random selected residents / 0-60 / 652 / 359 / 293 / 78 / 53 / I-I / Palpation / TSH
Wolde-Gebriel Z et al142 / Ethiopia / 1981 / School children / 5-20 / 35,635 / 16,476 / 19,159 / 36.1 / 25.1 / I-I / Palpation
Wolde-Gebriel Z et al142 / Ethiopia / 1981 / Random selected residents / 20-80 / 19,158 / 11,509 / 7,649 / 27.3 / 10.1 / I-I / Palpation
Trowbridge FL et al143 / United States of America / 1970 / Random selected residents / 2-80 / 35,999 / 20,537 / 15,462 / 4.3 / 1.4 / S-S / Palpation
Emami A et al144 / Iran-Tehran city / 1969 / School children / 6-11 / 926 / 457 / 469 / 23.8 / 11.3 / I-I / Palpation
Emami A et al144 / Iran-Tehran province / 1969 / Random selected residents / 0-60 / 13,567 / 6,766 / 6,801 / 39.4 / 24.5 / I-I / Palpation
Demarchi M et al145 / Iraq-Baghdad / 1969 / School children / 6-22 / 10,389 / 4,841 / 5,548 / 36.88 / 22.49 / I-I / Palpation
Demarchi M et al145 / Iraq-Basrah / 1969 / School children / 6-20 / 4,781 / 2,311 / 2,470 / 8.23 / 2.43 / I-I / Palpation
McGirr EM et al146 / United Kingdom / 1967 / School children / 5-15 / 6,202 / 3,101 / 3,101 / 16.08 / 13.44 / I-I / Palpation
Clements FW et al147 / Australia-Tasmania / 1965 / School children / 5-17 / 24,157 / 11,711 / 12,446 / 31.9 / 19.2 / I-I / Palpation

I-I= Insufficient-Insufficient: Longstanding iodine deficiency; I-S= Insufficient– Sufficient: Recent (<10 y) iodine sufficiency; S-S= Sufficient-Sufficient: Longstanding (>10 y) iodine sufficiency.

All studies were cross-sectional.

Supplementary table S2: Proportional prevalence of goiter according to subgroups of age and iodine status in the “palpation” group.

Age groups (Year) / Iodine status
All studies / I-I* / I-S† / S-S‡
1 / Females / 0.59(0.51-0.68) / 0.59(0.50-0.68) / - / -
Males / 0.41(0.32-0.49) / 0.41(0.32-0.50) / - / -
2 / Females / 0.60(0.52-0.68) / 0.60(0.51-0.68) / - / 0.62(0.20-0.98)
Males / 0.40(0.32-0.48) / 0.40(0.32-0.49) / - / 0.38(0.02-0.80)
3 / Females / 0.60(0.51-0.68) / 0.59(0.50-0.68) / - / 0.62(0.20-0.98)
Males / 0.41(0.32-0.49) / 0.41(0.32-0.50) / - / 0.38(0.02-0.80)
4 / Females / 0.60(0.51-0.68) / 0.59(0.50-0.68) / - / 0.62(0.20-0.98)
Males / 0.40(0.32-0.49) / 0.41(0.32-0.50) / - / 0.38(0.02-0.80)
5 / Females / 0.51(0.42-0.60) / 0.50(0.41-0.60) / - / 0.62(0.20-0.98)
Males / 0.49(0.40-0.58) / 0.50(0.40-0.59) / - / 0.38(0.02-0.80)
6 / Females / 0.51(0.48-0.54) / 0.51(0.48-0.55) / 0.54(0.51-0.57) / 0.44(0.37-0.51)
Males / 0.49(0.46-0.52) / 0.49(0.45-0.52) / 0.46(0.43-0.49) / 0.56(0.49-0.63)
7 / Females / 0.50(0.48-0.52) / 0.52(0.48-0.55) / 0.53(0.51-0.56) / 0.45(0.43-0.48)
Males / 0.50(0.48-0.52) / 0.48(0.45-0.52) / 0.47(0.44-0.49) / 0.5(0.52-0.57)
8 / Females / 0.50(0.48-0.52) / 0.51(0.47-0.55) / 0.52(0.51-0.54) / 0.47(0.44-0.49)
Males / 0.50(0.48-0.52) / 0.49(0.45-0.53) / 0.48(0.46-0.49) / 0.53(0.51-0.56)
9 / Females / 0.51(0.49-0.52) / 0.52(0.49-0.56) / 0.52(0.51-0.54) / 0.46(0.44-0.48)
Males / 0.49(0.48-0.51) / 0.48(0.44-0.51) / 0.48(0.46-0.49) / 0.54(0.52-0.56)
10 / Females / 0.51(0.49-0.53) / 0.52(0.49-0.56) / 0.52(0.51-0.54) / 0.47(0.44-0.49)
Males / 0.49(0.47-0.51) / 0.48(0.44-0.51) / 0.48(0.46-0.49) / 0.53(0.51-0.56)
11 / Females / 0.54(0.51-0.57) / 0.56(0.53-0.59) / 0.53(0.50-0.56) / 0.49(0.42-0.56)
Males / 0.46(0.43-0.49) / 0.44(0.41-0.47) / 0.47(0.44-0.50) / 0.51(0.44-0.58)
12 / Females / 0.54(0.52-0.57) / 0.56(0.53-0.60) / 0.54(0.51-0.56) / 0.46(0.40-0.53)
Males / 0.46(0.43-0.48) / 0.44(0.40-0.47) / 0.46(0.44-0.49) / 0.54(0.47-0.60)
13 / Females / 0.57(0.54-0.60) / 0.59(0.55-0.62) / 0.55(0.52-0.57) / 0.49(0.38-0.61)
Males / 0.43(0.40-0.46) / 0.41(0.38-0.45) / 0.45(0.43-0.48) / 0.51(0.39-0.62)
14 / Females / 0.57(0.54-0.60) / 0.59(0.55-0.62) / 0.54(0.51-0.57) / 0.58(0.38-0.78)
Males / 0.43(0.40-0.46) / 0.41(0.38-0.45) / 0.46(0.43-0.49) / 0.42(0.22-0.62)
15 / Females / 0.57(0.54-0.60) / 0.59(0.55-0.62) / 0.54(0.51-0.57) / 0.57(0.36-0.76)
Males / 0.43(0.40-0.46) / 0.41(0.38-0.45) / 0.46(0.43-0.49) / 0.43(0.24-0.64)
16 / Females / 0.61(0.57-0.64) / 0.63(0.59-0.67) / 0.54(0.50-0.58) / 0.62(0.49-0.75)
Males / 0.39(0.36-0.43) / 0.37(0.33-0.41) / 0.46(0.42-0.50) / 0.38(0.25-0.51)
17 / Females / 0.61(0.58-0.675) / 0.64(0.59-0.67) / 0.53(0.50-0.57) / 0.68(0.48-0.86)
Males / 0.39(0.35-0.42) / 0.36(0.31-0.41) / 0.47(0.43-0.50) / 0.32(0.14-0.52)
18 / Females / 0.61(0.58-0.65) / 0.64(0.60-0.69) / 0.53(0.49-0.57) / 0.62(0.41-0.82)
Males / 0.39(0.35-0.42) / 0.36(0.31-0.40) / 0.47(0.43-0.51) / 0.38(0.18-0.59)
19 / Females / 0.69(0.64-0.73) / 0.69(0.65-0.79) / 0.59(0.51-0.66) / 0.82(0.70-0.93)
Males / 0.31(0.27-0.36) / 0.31(0.26-0.35) / 0.41(0.34-0.49) / 0.18(0.07-0.30)
20 / Females / 0.69(0.65-0.73) / 0.70(0.65-0.74) / 0.59(0.51-0.66) / 0.82(0.70-0.93)
Males / 0.31(0.27-0.35) / 0.30(0.26-0.35) / 0.41(0.34-0.49) / 0.18(0.07-0.30)
21-30 / Females / 0.74(0.68-0.79) / 0.72(0.65-0.78) / 0.74(0.64-0.84) / 0.84(0.66-0.98)
Males / 0.26(0.21-0.32) / 0.28(0.22-0.35) / 0.26(0.16-0.36) / 0.16(0.02-0.34)
31-40 / Females / 0.72(0.66-0.77) / 0.70(0.63-0.76) / 0.72(0.59-0.84) / 0.84(0.67-0.98)
Males / 0.28(0.23-0.34) / 0.30(0.24-0.37) / 0.28(0.16-0.41) / 0.16(0.02-0.33)
41-50 / Females / 0.73(0.68-0.78) / 0.73(0.67-0.79) / 0.64(0.61-0.68) / 0.84(0.67-0.98)
Males / 0.27(0.22-0.32) / 0.27(0.21-0.33) / 0.36(0.32-0.39) / 0.16(0.02-0.33)
51-60 / Females / 0.74(0.65-0.83) / 0.76(0.66-0.86) / 0.58(0.52-0.65) / 0.84(0.67-0.98)
Males / 0.26(0.17-0.35) / 0.24 (0.14-0.34) / 0.42(0.35-0.48) / 0.16(0.02-0.33)
61-70 / Females / 0.77(0.61-0.91) / 0.75(0.53-0.93) / - / 0.83(0.69-0.94)
Males / 0.23(0.09-0.39) / 0.25(0.07-0.47) / - / 0.17(0.06-0.31)
71-80 / Females / 0.79(0.64-0.90) / 0.76(0.56-0.93) / - / 0.83(0.69-0.94)
Males / 0.21(0.10-0.36) / 0.24(0.07-0.44) / - / 0.17(0.06-0.31)

* Insufficient- Insufficient: Longstanding iodine deficiency

† Insufficient- Sufficient: Recent (<10 y) iodine sufficiency

‡ Sufficient- Sufficient: Longstanding (>10 y) iodine sufficiency

Supplementary table S3:Proportional prevalence of goiter according to subgroups of age and iodine status in the "Thyroid ultrasonography” group.

Age groups (Year) / Iodine status
All studies / I-I* / I-S† / S-S‡
6 / Females / 0.62(0.51-0.73) / 0.54(0.47-0.61) / 0.80(0.58-0.98) / 0.70(0.30-1.00)
Males / 0.38(0.27-0.49) / 0.46(0.39-0.53) / 0.20(0.02-0.42) / 0.3(0.00-0.70)
7 / Females / 0.49(0.35-0.62) / 0.52(0.46-0.58) / 0.39(0.00-0.89) / 0.61(0.49-0.72)
Males / 0.51(0.38-0.65) / 0.48(0.42-0.54) / 0.61(0.11-1.00) / 0.39(0.28-0.51)
8 / Females / 0.35(0.22-0.50) / 0.42(0.36-0.48) / 0.20(0.00-0.60) / 0.39(0.17-0.64)
Males / 0.65(0.50-0.78) / 0.58(0.52-0.64) / 0.80(0.40-1.00) / 0.61(0.36-0.83)
9 / Females / 0.38(0.31-0.46) / 0.47(0.41-0.54) / 0.24(0.11-0.39) / 0.37(0.27-0.47)
Males / 0.62(0.54-0.69) / 0.53(0.46-0.59) / 0.76(0.61-0.89) / 0.63(0.53-0.73)
10 / Females / 0.37(0.31-0.43) / 0.45(0.40-0.51) / 0.22(0.16-0.29) / 0.38(0.26-0.51)
Males / 0.63(0.57-0.69) / 0.55(0.49-0.60) / 0.78(0.71-0.84) / 0.62(0.49-0.74)
11 / Females / 0.39(0.35-0.43) / 0.42(0.37-0.47) / 0.33(0.22-0.44) / 0.32(0.22-0.43)
Males / 0.61(0.57-0.65) / 0.58(0.53-0.63) / 0.67(0.56-0.78) / 0.68(0.57-0.78)
12 / Females / 0.46(0.41-0.51) / 0.48(0.41-0.55) / 0.45(0.31-0.58) / 0.49(0.34-0.65)
Males / 0.54(0.49-0.59) / 0.52(0.45-0.59) / 0.55(0.42-0.69) / 0.51(0.35-0.66)
13 / Females / 0.45(0.35-0.56) / 0.44(0.34-0.55) / 0.46(0.20-0.73) / 0.30(0.10-0.54)
Males / 0.55(0.44-0.65) / 0.56(0.45-0.66) / 0.54(0.27-0.80) / 0.70(0.46-0.90)
14 / Females / 0.48(0.40-0.56) / 0.45(0.35-0.56) / 0.54(0.42-0.66) / 0.31(0.03-0.65)
Males / 0.52(0.44-0.60) / 0.55(0.44-0.65) / 0.46(0.34-0.58) / 0.69(0.35-0.97)
15 / Females / 0.48(0.38-0.59) / 0.40(0.27-0.54) / 0.64(0.44-0.83) / 0.56(0.14-0.95)
Males / 0.52(0.41-0.62) / 0.60(0.46-0.73) / 0.36(0.17-0.56) / 0.44(0.05-0.86)
16 / Females / - / - / - / -
Males / - / - / - / -
17 / Females / 0.47(0.00-1.00) / - / - / -
Males / 0.53(0.00-1.00) / - / - / -
18 / Females / 0.54(0.00-1.00) / - / - / 0.54(0.00-1.00)
Males / 0.46(0.00-1.00) / - / - / 0.46(0.00-1.00)
19 / Females / - / - / - / -
Males / - / - / - / -
20 / Females / - / - / - / -
Males / - / - / - / -
21-30 / Females / 0.82(0.51-1.00) / 0.93(0.72-1.00) / 0.50(0.00-1.00) / 0.64(0.24-0.97)
Males / 0.18(0.00-0.49) / 0.07(0.00-0.28) / 0.50(0.00-1.00) / 0.36(0.03-0.76)
31-40 / Females / 0.73(0.48-0.93) / 0.87(0.48-1.00) / 0.50(0.00-1.00) / 0.64(0.25-0.97)
Males / 0.27(0.07-0.52) / 0.13(0.00-0.52) / 0.50(0.00-1.00) / 0.36(0.03-0.75)
41-50 / Females / 0.76(0.50-0.95) / 0.83(0.52-1.00) / 0.50(0.00-1.00) / 0.64(0.33-0.91)
Males / 0.24(0.05-0.50) / 0.17(0.00-0.48) / 0.50(0.00-1.00) / 0.36(0.09-0.67)
51-60 / Females / 0.57(0.43-0.71) / 0.53(0.28-0.78) / 0.50(0.00-1.00) / 0.64(0.33-0.91)
Males / 0.43(0.29-0.57) / 0.47(0.22-0.72) / 0.50(0.00-1.00) / 0.36(0.09-0.67)
61-70 / Females / 0.61(0.51-0.71) / 0.65(0.58-0.72) / 0.50(0.00-1.00) / 0.54(0.32-0.75)
Males / 0.39(0.29-0.49) / 0.35(0.28-0.42) / 0.50(0.00-1.00) / 0.46(0.25-0.68)
71-80 / Females / 0.60(0.41-0.78) / - / - / 0.53(0.33-0.72)
Males / 0.40(0.22-0.59) / - / - / 0.47(0.28-0.67)

* Insufficient- Insufficient: Longstanding iodine deficiency

† Insufficient- Sufficient: Recent (<10 y) iodine sufficiency

‡ Sufficient- Sufficient: Longstanding (>10 y) iodine sufficiency