Regional Features of the Spread of Iodine Deficiency Disorders in the Population of the Far East

Abstract

Introduction: Diseases associated with iodine deficiency are among the most prevalent noncommunicable diseases around the world. Despite the fact that the number of countries where iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) pose a national problem decreases annually, iodine deficiency pathology in the Russian Federation is characterized by the annual increase in the incidence rate and the specific features of its spread are of high medical and social importance for our country. The objective was to summarize the results of available studies establishing characteristics of the spread of IDDs in the regions of the Russian Far Eastern Federal District. The material included research data on the issue accumulated in 1994–2019. This analytical review examines and systematizes existing information about the factors significant for the formation and development of disorders associated with iodine deficiency in the population of the Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD). Results: We identified the features related to a variety of factors leading to and promoting the development of IDDs in the population of the FEFD. We established that in the examined regions iodine deficiency was attributed to both the features of geochemical provinces, iodine deficiency in environmental media and the influence of factors of a different nature indirectly associated with a deficiency of iodine intake but able to disrupt the thyroid system and lead to serious consequences for public health. Conclusion: In view of the above, it is expedient to develop programs for targeted prevention of IDDs in groups at higher risk (children, adolescents, pregnant women, and nursing mothers) taking into account regional factors affecting the formation and development of IDDs.