| 1. |
- Allosso, Francesca, et al.
(author)
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Mortality in patients with adrenal insufficiency: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- 2024
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In: BMJ open. - 2044-6055. ; 14:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is a rare disorder characterised by an impaired secretion of glucocorticoids from the adrenal glands. Treatment strategies for AI have developed over time with reduced glucocorticoid replacement doses and improved circadian exposure regimens, but whether this has resulted in better survival is unknown. The main purpose of this systematic review is to gather and synthesise available evidence on long-term mortality in patients with AI. The secondary aim is to study causes of death, with focus on cardiovascular and infectious diseases, in AI patients.Studies published from the inception of respective databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane and Web of Science) until the end of May 2023 will be systematically synthetised. Observational studies with a reference population will be included, and their quality will be assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Data collected will be narratively integrated and a meta-analysis will be performed to pool data from studies considered homogeneous. The systematic review will be reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. This will be the first systematic review assessing mortality and causes of death in AI patients. The findings of this systematic review will be of value for both patients and healthcare providers.This systematic review does not require ethical approval or informed consent because it will be based on previously published data only and does not implicate any direct contact with individual patients. The research results will be presented at scientific conferences and submitted for publication in an internationally recognised peer-reviewed scientific journal.CRD42023416253.
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| 2. |
- Bergthorsdottir, Ragnhildur, 1971, et al.
(author)
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Increased risk of hospitalization, intensive care and death due to covid-19 in patients with adrenal insufficiency : a Swedish nationwide study
- 2024
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In: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 295:3, s. 322-330
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI) have excess morbidity and mortality related to infectious disorders. Whether patients with AI have increased morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 is unknown.Methods: In this linked Swedish national register-based cohort study, patients with primary and secondary AI diagnosis were identified and followed from 1 January 2020 to 28 February 2021. They were compared with a control cohort from the general population matched 10:1 for age and sex. The following COVID-19 outcomes were studied: incidence of COVID-19 infection, rates of hospitalization, intensive care admission and death. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) adjusted for socioeconomic factors and comorbidities were estimated using Cox regression analysis.Results: We identified 5430 patients with AI and 54,300 matched controls: There were 47.6% women, mean age was 57.1 (standard deviation 18.1) years, and the frequency of COVID-19 infection was similar, but the frequency of hospitalization (2.1% vs. 0.8%), intensive care (0.3% vs. 0.1%) and death (0.8% vs. 0.2%) for COVID-19 was higher in AI patients than matched controls. After adjustment for socioeconomic factors and comorbidities, the HR (95% CI) was increased for hospitalization (1.96, 1.59–2.43), intensive care admission (2.76, 1.49–5.09) and death (2.29, 1.60–3.28).Conclusion: Patients with AI have a similar incidence of COVID-19 infection to a matched control population, but a more than twofold increased risk of developing a severe infection or a fatal outcome. They should therefore be prioritized for vaccination, antiviral therapy and other appropriate treatment to mitigate hospitalization and death.
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| 3. |
- Bergthorsdottir, Ragnhildur, 1971
(author)
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Mortality and morbidity in patients with Addison's disease
- 2015
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Addison's disease (AD) or primary adrenal insufficiency is a rare disease with an estimated prevalence of 100-140 per million inhabitants and deadly unless treated with glucocorticoids (GCs). Very limited information is available on the morbidity and mortality in this patient group. A few old studies report near normal mortality and several studies indicate impaired bone health and reduced health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). It has been suggested that GC treatment, with both too high GC doses and a replacement regime which cannot replicate the physiological cortisol rhythm, may partly explain the impaired outcome in AD patients. This thesis is based on studies with the main objective of studying mortality and morbidity in patients with AD receiving long-term GC replacement therapy. In a large nation-wide register-based study patients with AD had a more than two-fold higher mortality rate than the general population which was mainly explained by excess mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer and infectious diseases. The mortality was further increased among patients with AD who also had diabetes mellitus (DM). In a case-control study, comparing AD patients to healthy controls matched for age, gender, BMI and smoking habits; cardiometabolic risk factors, visceral abdominal adipose tissue (VAT), bone health and HR-QoL were studied. The patients did not have increased VAT measured using computerized tomography, but a greater proportion of patients had the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The patients had reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased frequency of osteoporosis and osteopenia and patients using higher GC doses for replacement had increased risk of osteoporosis and osteopenia. Finally, using four different validated questionnaires we could demonstrate that the patients experienced more fatigue and had impaired HR-QoL. In conclusion, patients with AD in Sweden have increased mortality, which is mainly explained by cardiovascular diseases. Despite compatible VAT between the AD patients and controls, the patients have an increased prevalence of MetS and T2DM, both of which are known to be related to increased cardiovascular risk. Patients with AD also have impaired bone health and reduced HR-QoL. The thesis strongly suggests that there is a need for improvement in the overall management of patients with AD.
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| 4. |
- Bergthorsdottir, Ragnhildur, 1971, et al.
(author)
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Premature mortality in patients with Addison's disease: a population-based study.
- 2006
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In: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0021-972X .- 1945-7197. ; 91:12, s. 4849-53
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The survival rate of patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) undergoing currently accepted replacement therapy is not known, although well-informed patients are considered to have a normal survival rate. In this study, we evaluated the mortality of patients with Addison's disease in Sweden. METHODS: A population-based, retrospective, observational study was performed, using the National Swedish Hospital and Cause of Death Registers, covering the period from 1987-2001. After a diagnosis of Addison's disease, each patient was followed until the end of follow-up or death. Mortality was compared with that of the Swedish background population. FINDINGS: We identified 1675 patients (995 women and 680 men) diagnosed with primary adrenal insufficiency. The average follow-up from initial diagnosis was 6.5 yr. Five hundred seven patients died during the study period compared with an expected 199. The risk ratio for all-cause mortality was 2.19 (confidence interval 1.91-2.51) for men and 2.86 (confidence interval 2.54-3.20) for women. The excess mortality in both men and women was attributed to cardiovascular, malignant, and infectious diseases. Concomitant diabetes mellitus was observed in 12% of the patients, but only contributed to the increased mortality to a minor extent. INTERPRETATION: Compared with the background population, we observed that the risk ratio for death was more than 2-fold higher in patients with Addison's disease. Cardiovascular, malignant, and infectious diseases were responsible for the higher mortality rate.
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| 5. |
- Bergthorsdottir, Ragnhildur, 1971, et al.
(author)
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Visceral Fat and Novel Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Addison's Disease: A Case-Control Study
- 2017
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In: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0021-972X .- 1945-7197. ; 102:11, s. 4264-4272
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context: Patients with Addison's disease (AD) have increased cardiovascular mortality. Objective: To study visceral fat and conventional and exploratory cardiovascular risk factors in patients with AD. Subjects: Patients (n = 76; n = 51 women) with AD and 76 healthy control subjects were matched for sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and smoking habits. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome variable was visceral abdominal adipose tissue (VAT) measured using computed tomography. Secondary outcome variables were prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and 92 biomarkers of cardiovascular disease. Results: The mean 6 standard deviation age of all subjects was 53 6 14 years; mean BMI, 25 6 4 kg/ m2; and mean duration of AD, 17 6 12 years. The median (range) daily hydrocortisone dose was 30 mg (10 to 50 mg). Median (interquartile range) 24-hour urinary free cortisol excretion was increased in patients vs controls [359 nmol (193 to 601 nmol) vs 175 nmol (140 to 244 nmol); P, 0.001]. VAT did not differ between groups. After correction for multiple testing, 17 of the 92 studied biomarkers differed significantly between patients and control subjects. Inflammatory, proinflammatory, and proatherogenic risk biomarkers were increased in patients [fold change (FC),.1] and vasodilatory protective marker was decreased (FC, < 1). Twenty-six patients (34%) vs 12 control subjects (16%) fulfilled the criteria for MetS (P = 0.01). Conclusion: Despite higher cortisol exposure, VAT was not increased in patients with AD. The prevalence of MetS was increased and several biomarkers of cardiovascular disease were adversely affected in patients with AD.
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| 6. |
- Bothou, Christina, et al.
(author)
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Current Management and Outcome of Pregnancies in Women With Adrenal Insufficiency : Experience from a Multicenter Survey
- 2020
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In: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : Oxford University Press. - 0021-972X .- 1945-7197. ; 105:8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context: Appropriate management of adrenal insufficiency (AI) in pregnancy can be challenging due to the rarity of the disease and lack of evidence-based recommendations to guide glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid dosage adjustment.Objective: Multicenter survey on current clinical approaches in managing AI during pregnancy.Design: Retrospective anonymized data collection from 19 international centers from 2013 to 2019.Setting and patients: 128 pregnancies in 113 women with different causes of AI: Addison disease (44%), secondary AI (25%), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (25%), and acquired AI due to bilateral adrenalectomy (6%).Results: Hydrocortisone (HC) was the most commonly used glucocorticoid in 83% (97/117) of pregnancies. Glucocorticoid dosage was increased at any time during pregnancy in 73/128 (57%) of cases. In these cases, the difference in the daily dose of HC equivalent between baseline and the third trimester was 8.6 ± 5.4 (range 1-30) mg. Fludrocortisone dosage was increased in fewer cases (7/54 during the first trimester, 9/64 during the second trimester, and 9/62 cases during the third trimester). Overall, an adrenal crisis was reported in 9/128 (7%) pregnancies. Cesarean section was the most frequent mode of delivery at 58% (69/118). Fetal complications were reported in 3/120 (3%) and minor maternal complications in 15/120 (13%) pregnancies without fatal outcomes.Conclusions: This survey confirms good maternal and fetal outcome in women with AI managed in specialized endocrine centers. An emphasis on careful endocrine follow-up and repeated patient education is likely to have reduced the risk of adrenal crisis and resulted in positive outcomes.
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| 7. |
- Chantzichristos, Dimitrios, 1976, et al.
(author)
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Identification of human glucocorticoid response markers using integrated multi-omic analysis from a randomized crossover trial.
- 2021
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In: eLife. - 2050-084X. ; 10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Glucocorticoids are among the most commonly prescribed drugs, but there is no biomarker that can quantify their action. The aim of the study was to identify and validate circulating biomarkers of glucocorticoid action.In a randomized, crossover, single-blind, discovery study, 10 subjects with primary adrenal insufficiency (and no other endocrinopathies) were admitted at the in-patient clinic and studied during physiological glucocorticoid exposure and withdrawal. A randomization plan before the first intervention was used. Besides mild physical and/or mental fatigue and salt craving, no serious adverse events were observed. The transcriptome in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and adipose tissue, plasma miRNAomic, and serum metabolomics were compared between the interventions using integrated multi-omic analysis.We identified a transcriptomic profile derived from two tissues and a multi-omic cluster, both predictive of glucocorticoid exposure. A microRNA (miR-122-5p) that was correlated with genes and metabolites regulated by glucocorticoid exposure was identified (p=0.009) and replicated in independent studies with varying glucocorticoid exposure (0.01 ≤ p≤0.05).We have generated results that construct the basis for successful discovery of biomarker(s) to measure effects of glucocorticoids, allowing strategies to individualize and optimize glucocorticoid therapy, and shedding light on disease etiology related to unphysiological glucocorticoid exposure, such as in cardiovascular disease and obesity.The Swedish Research Council (Grant 2015-02561 and 2019-01112); The Swedish federal government under the LUA/ALF agreement (Grant ALFGBG-719531); The Swedish Endocrinology Association; The Gothenburg Medical Society; Wellcome Trust; The Medical Research Council, UK; The Chief Scientist Office, UK; The Eva Madura's Foundation; The Research Foundation of Copenhagen University Hospital; and The Danish Rheumatism Association.NCT02152553.
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| 8. |
- Chantzichristos, Dimitrios, 1976, et al.
(author)
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Mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus and Addison's disease: a nationwide, matched, observational cohort study.
- 2017
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In: European journal of endocrinology. - 1479-683X. ; 176:1, s. 31-39
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Our hypothesis was that patients with diabetes mellitus obtain an additional risk of death if they develop Addison's disease (AD).Nationwide, matched, observational cohort study cross-referencing the Swedish National Diabetes Register with Inpatient, Cancer and Cause of Death Registers in patients with diabetes (type 1 and 2) and AD and matched controls with diabetes. Clinical characteristics at baseline, overall, and cause-specific mortality were assessed. The relative risk of death was assessed using a Cox proportional hazards regression model.Between January 1996 and December 2012, 226 patients with diabetes and AD were identified and matched with 1129 controls with diabetes. Median (interquartile range) follow-up was 5.9 (2.7-8.6) years. When patients with diabetes were diagnosed with AD, they had an increased frequency of diabetes complications, but both medical history of cancer and coronary heart disease did not differ compared with controls. Sixty-four of the 226 patients with diabetes and AD (28%) died, while 112 of the 1129 controls (10%) died. The estimated relative risk increase (hazard ratio) in overall mortality in the diabetes and AD group was 3.89 (95% confidence interval 2.84-5.32) compared with controls with diabetes. The most common cause of death was cardiovascular in both groups, but patients with diabetes and AD showed an increased death rate from diabetes complications, infectious diseases and unknown causes.Patients with the rare combination of diabetes and AD showed a markedly increased mortality and died more frequently from infections and unknown causes than patients with diabetes alone. Improved strategy for the management of this combination of metabolic disorders is needed.
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