Association between Neck Circumference and Thyroid Disease: Findings of a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in Korea

Background: There were contradictory reports about the relationship between neck circumference (NC) and thyroid status. This study aimed to compare the NCs of Korean adults with or without thyroid disease. Methods: The data of 8,198 subjects (aged 40-80 yr) that participated in the 2019-2020 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were subjected to analysis. NCs were measured by trained staff to an accuracy of +/- 0.1 cm with a tape measure. Multiple logistic models were used to assess the prevalence of thyroid disease by NC level among men and pre- and postmenopausal women. Results: Approximately 5% of subjects had a history of thyroid disease. In contrast to men and postmenopausal women, premenopausal women with a larger NC had a significantly higher prevalence of thyroid disease (P- value=0.025). Conclusion: A large NC is significantly associated with thyroid disease among premenopausal Korean women.