Cardiometabolic Risk Parameters in “Nonfunctioning” Adrenal Incidentalomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
Based on cIMT, IR, AIx, FMD, LVMI, and PWV levels, patients with NFAI may be at increased cardiovascular risk.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with nonfunctioning adrenal incidentalomas vs matched subjects without adrenal incidentalomas (AI); mean age 53.3 ± 2.9 years, 35% males
- Participants
- 2,228 patients21 studies
- Comparison
- Nonfunctioning adrenal incidentalomas (NFAI) vs matched subjects without AI
- Outcome
- Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and insulin resistance (IR)
Methodological detailsrandom-effects model (DerSimonian and Laird)
- Random-effects model (DerSimonian and Laird)
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
NFAI vs Without AIEstimate (95% CI)
12 studies, 1063 subjects
SMD (cIMT) 1.22(0.87–1.58)
15 studies, 1745 subjects
SMD (IR) 0.51(0.32–0.69)
Further pooled results
| Outcome | Estimate | |
|---|---|---|
| AIx, FMD, LVMI and PWVNFAIvs Without AI2 studies, 140 subjects | SMD (AIx) 0.94 (95% CI 0.38–1.50) | |
| AIx, FMD, LVMI and PWVNFAIvs Without AI3 studies, 198 subjects | SMD (FMD) −1.24 (95% CI −1.84- −0.65) | |
| AIx, FMD, LVMI and PWVNFAIvs Without AI3 studies, 201 subjects | SMD (LVMI) 0.41 (95% CI 0.04–0.78) | |
| AIx, FMD, LVMI and PWVNFAIvs Without AI2 studies, 140 subjects | SMD (PWV) 1.03 (95% CI 0.16–1.89) | |
| −2−1012Difference (linear scale) |
Original publication
Cardiometabolic Risk Parameters in “Nonfunctioning” Adrenal Incidentalomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 30 October 2025. doi:10.
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