Effect of age factor on the clinical characteristics of Cushing's disease: a related research

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of age factor on clinical and biological characteristics and its complications in patients with Cushing's disease. Methods A total of 169 patients with Cushing's disease admitted to Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from September 2005 to October 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Using the age of 30 as a standard, they were divided into either a ≤30-year group (n=51) or a >30-year group (n=118). The differences in clinical symptoms, complications, various endocrine hormone levels, and other biochemical indicators of both groups were analyzed. Results The incidences of hypertension, muscle atrophy, ecchymosis, and impaired glucose tolerance of the ≤30-year group were significantly lower than those of the >30-year group (all P 30-year group (all P 30-year group (P 30-year group were significantly higher than those of the ≤30-year group (all P 30-year group were significantly higher than those of the ≤30-year group (all P<0.05); and the levels of TT3, TT4, FT4, and albumin were negatively correlated with age (r= -0.310, -0.191, -0.216, and -0.257; all P<0.05), and the levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein were positively correlated with age (r=0.211, 0.243; all P<0.05). Conclusion The clinical and biological characteristics of patients with Cushing's disease are closely associated with age. Key words: Cushing's disease; Age factors; Symptoms and signs