Effects of proximity to green areas on thyroid disease: Results from the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brazil)

• Grant number: 24/02358-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Isabela Judith Martins Bensenor
• Grantee: Ítalo de Moraes Dolores
• Host Institution: Hospital Universitário (HU). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

There are few studies that have evaluated the association of thyroid diseases with environmental factors such as air pollution. Most of the analyzes that exist are on pregnant women subjected to air pollution and the study generally focuses on the association of thyroid diseases in the mother-child binomial. No study was found that analyzed the association of thyroid disease with proximity to green areas, which could be a protective factor that mitigates the effect of environmental pollution. The objective of the project is to study the association between green areas and thyroid disease in residents of the urban area of the city of São Paulo using data from the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brazil). This will be a cross-sectional analysis that will use data from the ELSA-Brazil baseline (2008-2010). The definition of thyroid disease will be based on the levels of thyrotrophic hormones, free thyroxine and the use of medications to treat thyroid diseases (levothyroxine, PTU and thiamazole). Based on these criteria, thyroid disease will be defined as: clinical hyperthyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroidism, euthyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism and clinical hypothyroidism. Quintiles of levels of thyrotrophic hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4) and antithyroid peroxidase antibodies will also be used in the analysis. Information about green areas will be classified into 3 variables: number of trees, vegetation cover and proximity to green areas considering a buffer of 300 and 1000 meters from the participant's residence. These variables have already been measured in the study and are ready for use. The statistical analysis will use spatial, generalized linear, descriptive and inferential models to evaluate the association between green areas and thyroid disease and also with autoimmunity assessed by anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies.