EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INDICATOR VALUE IN THE IODINE AVAILABILITY ASSESSMENT — EVIDENCE FROM THE REGIONS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Background: In the Russian Federation, newborn screening comprises thyroid stimulating hormone determination to exclude primary congenital hypothyroidism. Screening is carried out throughout Russia. Neonatal TSH can be used to assess iodine deficiency and monitor iodine prevention programs. Objective: To assess and compare official statistical data on congenital hypothyroidism, the prevalence of hypothyroidism and iodine deficiency syndrome in children, as well as urinary iodine in the Russian regions. Materials and methods: The level of neonatal TSH was determined in 97.69% of children born in the Russian Federation in 2017. This article represents the results on the prevalence of hypothyroidism in the regions with various iodine availability. The correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship of CH incidence in newborns and iodine availability. Results: The calculated correlation coefficient, which was 0.2, reflects a weak relationship between the degree of iodine deficiency in the region and the number of newborns diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism. Conclusions: In the Russian Federation, a law on universal salt iodization does not exist, and many regions are still in conditions of moderate or severe iodine deficiency. To assess the iodine status in these particular regions, we could use the results of newborn TSH screening