Iodine sufficiency in Sweden In Sweden, goitre was first described by Carl von Linné in 1747, and in the beginning of the 20th century, goitre was detected in 60% of cases in certain areas (19) and in 18% of the total population . A national survey conducted in 1929 confirmed endemic goitre regions located in the inner or eastern part of the country: these iodine deficient areas were known as the "goitre-belt".