Gastrointestinal symptoms in acromegaly: A case control study

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology
• Quality of Life Studies

Background:

• Acromegaly, a condition of excess growth hormone due to pituitary adenoma, is linked to connective tissue abnormalities.
• Growing evidence suggests a correlation between connective tissue diseases and functional gastrointestinal symptoms.
• This study investigates gastrointestinal symptoms in acromegaly patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency, type, and burden of abdominal symptoms in acromegaly patients.
• To compare gastrointestinal symptom prevalence in acromegaly patients versus a healthy control group.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical records for acromegaly patients (2010-2017).
• Utilized Short Form Health Survey (SF36) and Rome IV Diagnostic Questionnaire for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (R4DQ).
• Compared data with a sex- and age-matched control group; statistical analysis using Excel and SPSS v25.

Main Results:

• 92% of acromegaly patients reported abdominal symptoms; 78% had functional gastrointestinal disorders (vs. 16% controls).
• Functional constipation was most prevalent (69% acromegaly vs. 21% controls).
• Acromegaly patients reported lower quality of life scores on the SF36 questionnaire.

Conclusions:

• Functional gastrointestinal disorders, especially constipation, are significantly more common in acromegaly patients.
• The increased prevalence of these symptoms likely contributes to poorer quality of life in acromegaly.
• Findings highlight the need to address gastrointestinal health in acromegaly management.