Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42337489›Full record

ArticleBMC endocrine disorders2026

Association of the Fibrosis-4 index with thyroid nodule prevalence in women: a cross-sectional study.

Ruixia Liu, Mengmeng Zheng, Tianrong Pan

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Article in BMC endocrine disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Ruixia LiuDepartment of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Mengmeng ZhengDepartment of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Tianrong PanDepartment of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China. pantianrong@fy.ahmu.edu.cn.

Funding

the Clinical and Translational Research Project of Anhui Province 202427b10020055 and 202427b10020078
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe relationship between liver-related metabolic markers and thyroid nodules (TNs) has attracted increasing interest. However, whether the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index is independently associated with TN prevalence in women, particularly after accounting for the age embedded in the score, remains unclear. We investigated the association between FIB-4 and prevalent TNs in a female health-check cohort and assessed its robustness in age-stratified and age-adjusted analyses.

methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 695 women from a health examination cohort at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. TNs were defined as ultrasound-detected thyroid nodules. Multivariable logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for prevalent TNs according to standardized FIB-4 levels. Prespecified age-stratified analyses were performed for women aged ≤ 60 years and > 60 years. Within each age stratum, an additional model adjusted for continuous age. Age-adjusted within-stratum results were considered the main basis for interpretation.

resultsIn the full female cohort, the association between FIB-4 and prevalent TNs was attenuated after additional adjustment for continuous age (OR 1.104, 95% CI 0.822-1.484; P = 0.511). In age-adjusted within-stratum analyses, FIB-4 was not significantly associated with prevalent TNs in either women aged ≤ 60 years (OR 1.211, 95% CI 0.837-1.751; P = 0.310) or women aged > 60 years (OR 0.567, 95% CI 0.289-1.113; P = 0.099). The corresponding base model estimates before additional continuous-age adjustment were OR 1.564 (95% CI 1.086-2.253; P = 0.016) and OR 0.576 (95% CI 0.278-1.193; P = 0.138), respectively. The interaction between FIB-4 and age group was not statistically significant (P for interaction = 0.239).

conclusionsAfter additional adjustment for continuous age within age strata, the association between FIB-4 and prevalent thyroid nodules in women was attenuated and no longer statistically significant. These findings suggest that the apparent relationship between FIB-4 and TN prevalence in this health-check population may be substantially influenced by age handling and should be interpreted cautiously. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

BiomarkersThyroid NoduleAdultAgedChinaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMiddle AgedPrevalencePrognosisBiomarkersAge adjustmentFibrosis-4 indexLiver-thyroid axisMetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseaseThyroid noduleWomen

Identifiers

PMID42337489
PMCPMC13543565

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