Increased mortality in acromegaly is due to vascular and respiratory disease and is normalised by control of growth hormone (GH) levels—A retrospective analysis from the UK Acromegaly Register 1970–2016
Authors' conclusion
Acromegaly is associated with increased incidence of all cancers but not thyroid or colon cancer and no increase in cancer mortality. Excess mortality is due to vascular and respiratory disease. The risk is highest in the first 5 years following diagnosis and is mitigated by normalising GH levels.
Study context
- Population
- Subjects with acromegaly from the UK Acromegaly Register (1970–2016)
- Participants
- 1,845 subjects
- Exposure
- Acromegaly vs UK general population
- Outcome
- All-cause mortality (SMR) and incidence of all cancers (SIR) vs UK general population
Methodological detailsUK Acromegaly Register 1970–2016
- UK Acromegaly Register 1970–2016
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
All-cause mortality, standardised mortality rates (SMR) (95% CI 1.24-1.46), p < .001
1.35
Incidence of all cancers, standardised incidence rates (SIR) (95% CI 1.06-1.33), p < .001
1.38
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Timing of deaths after diagnosis
- All-cause, all cancer and CV deaths highest in first 5 years after diagnosis
GH levels and all-cause mortality
- Positive association of post-treatment GH with all-cause mortality
- P < 0.001
- Positive association of mean treatment GH with all-cause mortality
- P < 0.001
- Mortality normalised with post-treatment GH <1.0 µg/L or mean treatment GH <2.5 µg/L
Original publication
Increased mortality in acromegaly is due to vascular and respiratory disease and is normalised by control of GH levels—A retrospective analysis from the UK Acromegaly Register 1970–2016. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). Published 23 April 2024. doi:10.
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