Mortality and Morbidity in Acromegaly

Cardiovascular Complications

• Heart failure is the most common cause of death in patients with acromegaly, with valvular heart disease being a specific complication 1
• The American Heart Association recommends prompt diagnosis and treatment of the underlying pituitary disorder to reduce cardiovascular risk 1

Other Causes of Mortality

• Cerebrovascular disease is a significant cause of mortality in acromegaly 2
• Malignancies, particularly colorectal cancer, are more prevalent in patients with acromegaly, with an increased prevalence of colorectal adenomas and cancer 2, 3
• Regular colonoscopic screening is recommended starting at age 40 for patients with acromegaly 2

Impact of Treatment on Mortality

• Normalization of GH and IGF-1 levels decreases mortality rates, with effective treatment improving cardiovascular outcomes 4
• Surgical management of the pituitary tumor can lead to regression of cardiac changes, especially in younger patients, and somatostatin analogs can reduce left ventricular hypertrophy and improve ventricular arrhythmia profiles 1