Based on clinical experience on the rising incidence of some thyropathies in our population, the authors examined a random sample of the Prague population. They assessed and evaluated iodinuria, the sonographic finding of the thyroid gland, the palpation finding of the thyroid and a clinical examination which comprised a detailed case-history (a questionnaire checked during the examination) and a clinical and anthropometric examination. The results indicate that iodinuria (which reflects the iodine intake) reaches the recommended optimum (above 150 micrograms iodine/l) only in 11.4% of boys, 14% men, 6.3% girls and 5.4% women. A quite inadequate intake (less than 50 g iodine/l) was recorded in 13.2% boys, 15.2% men, 17% girls and 33.1% women. When evaluating the thyroid volume, an enlarged volume is found in 20.4-58.3% and on evaluation by palpation pathological changes are found in a considerable proportion of the examined population. The findings suggest that the iodine supply of the Prague population is inadequate and the incidence of abnormal findings on the thyroid gland is high. It will be necessary to verify these findings in other random population samples from other localities. If the adverse position will be confirmed, this will call for an urgent solution, i.e. a better iodine supply of the population.

Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Czechoslovakia /epidemiology/; Female; Humans; Iodine /deficiency/; Male; Middle Aged; Thyroid Diseases /epidemiology/