The prevalence of thyroid nodules (TNs) by quartiles of sex related hormone levels
| ≥60 years | <60 years | |||||||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | p | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | p | |
| Total T (nmol/L) | <13.20 | 13.20–17.13 | 17.13–22.00 | >22.00 | − | <12.30 | 12.30–15.20 | 15.20–18.70 | >18.70 | − |
| TN(+)(n(%)) | 219 (57.2) | 191 (51.2) | 202 (53.2) | 176 (46.8) | 0.037 | 235 (37.0) | 238 (37.4) | 229 (36.9) | 177 (28.6) | 0.002 |
| E2 (pmol/L) | <87.75 | 87.75–119.00 | 119.00–162.00 | >162.00 | − | <41.50 | 41.50–94.90 | 94.90–126.00 | >126.00 | − |
| TN(+)(n(%)) | 192 (50.8) | 201 (51.7) | 198 (53.8) | 197 (52.3) | 0.869 | 222 (35.4) | 226 (35.7) | 219 (34.7) | 212 (34.2) | 0.951 |
| E2/T ratio | <4.46 | 4.46–6.70 | 6.70–9.64 | >9.64 | − | <3.67 | 3.67–5.96 | 5.96–8.29 | >8.29 | − |
| TN(+)(n(%)) | 184 (48.7) | 192 (50.8) | 205 (54.2) | 207 (54.8) | 0.284 | 211 (33.9) | 198 (31.3) | 234 (37.3) | 236 (37.6) | 0.062 |
| FSH (IU/L) | <7.20 | 7.20–9.80 | 9.80–14.30 | >14.30 | − | <4.10 | 4.10–5.80 | 5.80–8.11 | >8.11 | − |
| TN(+)(n(%)) | 197 (51.2) | 195 (52.1) | 203 (53.6) | 193 (51.6) | 0.782 | 199 (31.5) | 215 (33.2) | 218 (36.1) | 247 (39.4) | 0.018 |
| LH (IU/L) | <4.70 | 4.70–6.50 | 6.50–9.06 | >9.06 | − | <3.10 | 3.10–4.22 | 4.22–5.90 | >5.90 | − |
| TN(+)(n(%)) | 201 (51.7) | 198 (52.7) | 199 (53.9) | 190 (50.3) | 0.782 | 217 (33.1) | 211 (35.2) | 218 (33.9) | 233 (38.1) | 0.267 |
| SHBG (nmol/L) | <40.30 | 40.30–56.10 | 56.10–75.90 | >75.90 | − | <24.90 | 24.90–34.50 | 34.50–47.30 | >47.30 | − |
| TN(+)(n(%)) | 214 (56.5) | 204 (54.0) | 196 (51.9) | 174 (46.2) | 0.032 | 245 (39.0) | 226 (35.8) | 218 (34.8) | 190 (30.4) | 0.015 |
E2, oestradiol; FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone; LH, luteinising hormone; SHBG, sex hormone-binding globulin; T, testosterone; TN(+); participants with thyroid nodule(s).