Women with Turner syndrome are at high risk of lifestyle-related disease —From questionnaire surveys by the Foundation for Growth Science in Japan

Abstract

In this study, the prevalence of obesity and complications of lifestyle-related diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia and liver dysfunction, as well as the relationship with karyotypes, were investigated in 492 patients with Turner syndrome (TS) aged 17 years or older. Data were obtained through questionnaire surveys administered by attending physicians throughout Japan. Collected data were compared with data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey. Patient ages ranged from 17.1 to 42.5 years (mean ± standard error, 26.6±0.2). The prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases at age 20 or over was 6.3% for diabetes, 8.7% for hypertension, 20.2% for dyslipidemia and 12.4% for liver dysfunction. These four diseases were clearly associated with severity of obesity. Obesity (BMI ≥25 kg/m(2)) was observed in 106 out of 426 patients with TS aged 15 to 39 years (24.7%) and the prevalence was significantly higher than that of the general female population (9.4%). The mean BMI in age subgroups without any complications ranged from 21.2 to 22.7, which although was within normal ranges was significantly higher than that in the general female population (20.3-21.3). In this study population, patients with TS had more complications related to lifestyle-related diseases that were highly related to obesity. Few associations between complications and karyotypes were found. In the follow-up of patients with TS, the presence of lifestyle-related disease should be considered in the evaluation and treatment of the disease.