High incidence of cardiovascular disease and increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in women with hypopituitarism not receiving growth hormone treatment: Preliminary results

Recently, epidemiological evidence has suggested that hypopituitarism with untreated growth hormonedeficiency (GHD) is associated with a high incidence of cardiovascular mortality and that women are particularly at risk. In the present study, the incidence of cardiovascular disease and prevalence of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Growth hormone & IGF research 1999-04, Vol.9, p.21-24
Main Authors: Erfurth, E.M., Bülow, B., Eskilsson, J., Hagmar, L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Blood Glucose - analysis
cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology
cardiovascular risk factors
Electrocardiography, Ambulatory
Female
Human Growth Hormone - therapeutic use
Humans
Hypopituitarism
Hypopituitarism - blood
Hypopituitarism - complications
Hypopituitarism - drug therapy
Incidence
Insulin - blood
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - analysis
Lipoproteins, HDL - blood
Lipoproteins, LDL - blood
Risk Factors
women
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Summary:Recently, epidemiological evidence has suggested that hypopituitarism with untreated growth hormonedeficiency (GHD) is associated with a high incidence of cardiovascular mortality and that women are particularly at risk. In the present study, the incidence of cardiovascular disease and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in 33 such women was assessed and compared with matched controls. A significantly higher number of diagnosed circulatory disorders occurred in the women with hypopituitarism compared with controls, and drug consumption for cardiovascular disorders was also significantly higher in this group. Furthermore, patients with hypopituitarism had a significantly higher waist:hip ratio and a higher ratio of low-density lipoprotein to high-density lipoprotein than controls. Electrocardiogram data showed that hypopituitarism was associated with more episodes of bradycardia. In summary, women with hypopituitarism had an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and a less favourable risk factor profile compared with matched controls. The data add support to previous studies that have shown increased risks of cardiovascular mortality associated with hypopituitarism with untreated GHD. We conclude that adequate cardiovascular surveillance programmes are required for patients with pituitary insufficiency.
ISSN:1096-6374
1532-2238
DOI:10.1016/S1096-6374(99)80005-7