Acromegaly is associated with an increased incidence of primary malignant tumors: data from a national study in Sweden
Main finding · All cancerResult — go to the resultAdjusted hazard ratio 1.28 95% CI 1.11–1.49Authors' conclusion
This nationwide, matched cohort study showed an increased risk of cancer in patients with acromegaly, underscoring the importance of vigilance for early signs of cancer after acromegaly diagnosis. Biochemical control had minor effects on increased cancer development, indicating an effect beyond GH hypersecretion.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with acromegaly diagnosed 1991–2018 in Sweden (49.5% female; median age 52.0 years), Swedish Pituitary and National Patient Registersmatched cohort
- Participants
- 1,035 vs 10,261
- Exposure
- Acromegaly vs matched population controls
- Acromegalyn = 1,035
- Controlsn = 10,261reference
- Outcome
- Cancer incidence
- Follow-up
- From 5 years before acromegaly diagnosis
Methodological detailsnationwide, 10 controls per case, Cox proportional hazard regression adjusted for age, sex and comorbidity
- Nationwide
- 10 controls per case
- Cox proportional hazard regression adjusted for age, sex and comorbidity
Main finding
All cancer
Adjusted hazard ratio
1.28
95% CI 1.11–1.49
Acromegalyvs Controls
aHR 1.28 (95% CI 1.11–1.49)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | aHR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Colorectal cancer · from 5 years before acromegaly diagnosisMatched cohort | 1.84 (1.28–2.64) | |
| Lung cancer · from 5 years before acromegaly diagnosisMatched cohort | 1.95 (1.22–3.11) | |
| Hematologic cancer · from 5 years before acromegaly diagnosisMatched cohort | 1.68 (1.03–2.73) | |
| Breast cancer in women · from 5 years before acromegaly diagnosisMatched cohort | 1.46 (1.02–2.11) | |
| 0.20.5125Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
Second cancers after diagnosis
- Second cancers after diagnosis tended to be increased
- aHR 1.54, 0.98-2.44 (95% CI)
Death from cancer, patients aged 40 to 60 years
- Death from cancer only significantly elevated in patients 40 to 60 years of age
- aHR 1.48, 1.19-1.85 (95% CI)
Persistently elevated IGF-1 vs biochemically controlled patients
- Higher overall mortality rate with persistently elevated IGF-1
- aHR 1.50, 1.10-2.01 (95% CI)
- No increase in cancer incidence or cancer-related mortality vs biochemically controlled patients
Original publication
Acromegaly is associated with an increased incidence of primary malignant tumors: data from a national study in Sweden. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 30 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →