Diabetes, Active Disease, and Afternoon Serum Cortisol Levels Predict Cushing’s Disease Mortality: A Cohort Study

Abstract Context Cushing’s disease (CD) is a life-threating disease, with increased mortality in comparison with the general population. Objective This study aimed to evaluate standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) in CD patients. We also analyzed independent risk factors related to increased mortality. Design We conducted a longitudinal cohort study in a 3rd level specialty center, from 1979 to 2018, in patients with CD. Results From 1375 cases with a pathology diagnosis of pituitary adenoma, 191 cases had the confirmed diagnosis of CD (14%). A total of 172 patients completed follow-up, with a mean age at diagnosis of 33 ± 11 years, female predominance (n = 154, 89.5%), majority of them with microadenoma (n = 136, 79%), and a median follow-up of 7.5 years (2.4–15). Eighteen patients (10.5%) died, 8 of them (44%) were with active CD, 8 (44%) were under remission, and 2 (11%) were under disease control. Estimated all-cause SMR = 3.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9–4.8, P