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Predictors of morbidity and mortality in acromegaly: an Italian survey

2012; Oxford University Press; Volume: 167; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1530/eje-12-0084

1479-683X

Maura Arosio, Giuseppe Reimondo, Elena Malchiodi, Paola Berchialla, Alberto Borraccino, Laura De Marinis, Rosario Pivonello, Silvia Grottoli, Marco Losa, Salvatore Cannavò, Francesco Minuto, M Montini, Marta Bondanelli, Ernesto De Menis, Chiara Martini, G Angeletti, A Velardo, Alessandro Peri, Marco Faustini‐Fustini, Patrizia Tita, Francesca Pigliaru, Giorgio Borretta, Carla Scaroni, Nicoletta Bazzoni, Antonio Bianchi, Marialuisa Appetecchia, Francesco Cavagnini, Gaetano Lombardi, Ezio Ghigo, P. Beck‐Peccoz, Annamaria Colao, Massimo Terzolo, _ _,

Adrenal and Paraganglionic Tumors

Objective To describe demographic and hormonal characteristics, comorbidities (diabetes mellitus and hypertension), therapeutic procedures and their effectiveness, as well as predictors of morbidity and mortality in a nationwide survey of Italian acromegalic patients. Design Retrospective multicenter epidemiological study endorsed by the Italian Society of Endocrinology and performed in 24 tertiary referral Italian centers. The mean follow-up time was 120 months. Results A total of 1512 patients, 41% male, mean age: 45±13 years, mean GH: 31±37 μg/l, IGF1: 744±318 ng/ml, were included. Diabetes mellitus was reported in 16% of cases and hypertension in 33%. Older age and higher IGF1 levels at diagnosis were significant predictors of diabetes and hypertension. At the last follow-up, 65% of patients had a controlled disease, of whom 55% were off medical therapy. Observed deaths were 61, with a standardized mortality ratio of 1.13 95% (confidence interval (CI): 0.87–1.46). Mortality was significantly higher in the patients with persistently active disease (1.93; 95% CI: 1.34–2.70). Main causes of death were vascular diseases and malignancies with similar prevalence. A multivariate analysis showed that older age, higher GH at the last follow-up, higher IGF1 levels at diagnosis, malignancy, and radiotherapy were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusions Pretreatment IGF1 levels are important predictors of morbidity and mortality in acromegaly. The full hormonal control of the disease, nowadays reached in the majority of patients with modern management, reduces greatly the disease-related mortality.