Iodine Deficiency in Children in the Far Eastern Federal District: Problems and Solutions

An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of iodine deficiency among children living in the Arctic and southern zones of the Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD). Iodine status was assessed by determining the concentration of ioduria using the arsenite-cerium method. The study revealed that only 26.1% of children living in the Far North had normal iodine levels in their bodies. Mild, moderate, and severe iodine deficiency was diagnosed in 34.0%, 30.3%, and 9.6% of those examined, respectively. The incidence of low iodine status in children in the Far North was 2.6 times higher than in the southern zone (80.9% and 61.8%, respectively, OR = 2.611, 95% CI 1.339-5.090), with a significant prevalence of moderate iodine deficiency (37.5% and 17.7%, respectively, p = 0.005). Interviews with parents of the examined children revealed that only 20.0% of Far East families use iodized salt daily, which is categorically insufficient to eliminate iodine deficiency.