Prevalence of clinical signs, symptoms and comorbidities at diagnosis of acromegaly: a systematic review in accordance with PRISMA guidelines
Authors' conclusion
Acromegaly manifests itself with typical physical changes but also leads to a wide variety of common comorbidities, emphasizing that recognition of a combination of these features is key to establishing the diagnosis.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with acromegaly at time of diagnosis; literature search in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science (November 18, 2021)124 articles
- Outcome
- Prevalence of clinical signs, symptoms and comorbidities at diagnosis of acromegaly (weighted mean prevalence)
- Follow-up
- At time of diagnosis
Methodological detailsin accordance with PRISMA guidelines, weighted mean prevalence, risk of bias assessed with Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist
- In accordance with PRISMA guidelines
- Weighted mean prevalence
- Risk of bias assessed with Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Weighted mean prevalence of clinical signs and symptoms at diagnosis
- Acral enlargement
- 90%
- Facial features
- 65%
- Oral changes
- 62%
- Headache
- 59%
- Fatigue/tiredness
- 53%
- Daytime sleepiness
- 48%
- Hyperhidrosis
- 47%
- Snoring
- 46%
- Oily skin
- 37%
- Thicker skin
- 35%
- Weight gain
- 36%
- Arthralgia
- 34%
Further pooled results
Comorbidities vs age- and sex-matched controls
- Acromegaly patients more frequently had hypertension, left ventricle hypertrophy, dia/systolic dysfunction, cardiac arrhythmias, (pre)diabetes, dyslipidemia and intestinal polyps and malignancy than age- and sex-matched controls
- Cardiovascular comorbidity lower in more recent studies
Features most often leading to diagnosis
- Typical physical changes (acral enlargement, facial changes, prognatism), local tumor effects (headache, visual defect), diabetes, thyroid cancer and menstrual disorders
Original publication
Prevalence of clinical signs, symptoms and comorbidities at diagnosis of acromegaly: a systematic review in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Pituitary. Published 20 May 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →