Predictors of morbidity and mortality in acromegaly : an Italian survey

Objective: To describe demographic and hormonal characteristics, co-morbidities (diabetes mellitus and hypertension), therapeutic procedures and their effectiveness, as well as predictors of morbidity and mortality in a nation-wide survey of Italian acromegalic patients.Design: Retrospective multicentre epidemiological study endorsed by the Italian Society of Endocrinology and performed in 24 tertiary referral Italian centres . The mean follow-up time was 120 months.Results: A total of 1512 patients, 41% M, mean age: 45±13 years, mean GH: 31±37 mcg/L, IGF-I: 744±318 ng/ml, were included. Diabetes mellitus was reported in 16% of cases, hypertension in 33%. Older age and higher IGF-I 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 (SMR) of 1.13 (IC95%: 0.87-1.46). Mortality was significantly higher in the patients with persistently active disease (1.93; IC95%: 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 last follow-up, higher IGF-I levels at diagnosis, malignancy and radiotherapy were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusions. Pre-treatment IGF-I 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.