Objective: The frequency of Cushing's disease (CD), ACTH-independent Cushing's syndrome (CS) and autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS) in patients with obesity is not well known. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to assess the frequency of CD, CS and ACS among the patients with obesity.
Methods: This study included 813 patients (683 female, mean age 46.47±14.23 yr; mean body mass index (BMI) 37.31±6.50 kg/m2). Patients with obesity were classified further to stages 1, 2, and 3, according to BMI. All patients underwent a low dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST). The patients with CD, CS, and ACS and patients with simple obesity were compared concerning gender, age, type-2 diabetes, hypertension (HT) and hyperlipidemia (HL).
Results: Forty-four (5.4%) out of 813 patients were diagnosed as CD, CS or ACS. CD, CS, and ACS were diagnosed in four (0.4%), two (0.2%), and 33 (4%) patients, respectively. When patients with CD, CS and ACS were compared to the patients with simple obesity, older age at diagnosis, the presence of stage-1 obesity, the presence of HT, and uncontrolled type-2 diabetes were more frequent in patients with CD, CS and ACS (p=0.001, p=0.007, p=0.004, and p=0.0026, respectively).
Conclusion: The frequency of CD, CS, and ACS is high among patients with obesity. Screening for CD, CS, and ACS in patients with stage-I obesity who are older than 50 years of age with uncontrolled type-2 diabetes and HT may be a reasonable approach.
Keywords: Autonomous cortisol secretion; Cushing’s syndrome; obesity.
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