DIAGNOSIS OF ENDOCRINE DISEASE: Prevalence of hypercortisolism in type 2 diabetes patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with manic morbidity in elderly patients with mood disorders

The association between mood disorders, especially bipolar disorder (BD), and metabolic disorders, is long known. However, to which extent metabolic disorders affect the course of mood disorders in late life is still open to inquiring. To assess the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on late-life mood disorders a retrospective chart review was performed. Elderly depressive patients (≥ 65 years) diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (N = 57) or BD (N = 43) and followed up for at least 18 months were included and subdivided according to the presence of T2DM comorbidity. Vascular encephalopathy (39.1% vs. 15.6%, P  = 0.021) and neurocognitive disorders (21.7% vs. 5.2%, P  = 0.028), were more frequently reported in patients with T2DM than in those without. Patients with T2DM showed a greater percentage of follow-up time in manic episodes (r = -0.23, P  = 0.020) and a higher rate of manic episode(s) during follow-up (21.7% vs. 5.2%, P  = 0.028) than those without. When restricting longitudinal analyses to patients with bipolar spectrum disorders, results were confirmed. In line with the well-known connection between BD and metabolic disorders, our data support an association between T2DM and unfavorable course of illness in the elderly with BD.

Relationship between cortisol and diabetic microvascular complications: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate whether serum cortisol associate with diabetic microvascular compliments in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The subjects were recruited from hospitalized patients with T2DM from 2019 to 2021. The odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) in relation to cortisol quartiles were obtained by multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

(1) Cortisol level was positively correlated with the severity of microalbuminuria. The OR (95% CI) of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria in the last quartile were 3.396 (2.030, 5.682) and 8.407 (3.726, 18.971) compared with the first quartile (p < 0.001). (2) Cortisol level was positively correlated with the severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR). The OR (95% CI) of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy group (NPDR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy group (PDR) in the last quartile were 2.007 (1.401, 2.875) and 7.122 (2.525, 20.090) compared with the first quartile. (3) Elevated cortisol level was associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The OR (95% CI) of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in the last quartile was 1.956 (1.371, 2.792) and that in the third quartile was 1.854 (1.319, 2.608).

CONCLUSIONS

High serum cortisol levels were significantly associated with diabetic microvascular compliments in inpatients. Its causality remains to be further studied.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR2100051749.

Glucose and lipid metabolism abnormalities in Cushing's syndrome

Prolonged excess of glucocorticoids (GCs) has adverse systemic effects leading to significant morbidities and an increase in mortality. Metabolic alterations associated with the high level of the GCs are key risk factors for the poor outcome. These include GCs causing excess gluconeogenesis via upregulation of key enzymes in the liver, a reduction of insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissue by inhibiting the insulin receptor signalling pathway, and inhibition of insulin secretion in beta cells leading to dysregulated glucose metabolism. In addition, chronic GC exposure leads to an increase in visceral adipose tissue, as well as an increase in lipolysis resulting in higher circulating free fatty acid levels and in ectopic fat deposition. Remission of hypercortisolism improves these metabolic changes, but very often does not result in full resolution of the abnormalities. Therefore, long-term monitoring of metabolic variables is needed even after the resolution of the excess GC levels.

Biochemical clusters predict mortality and reported inability to work 10 ​years later

BACKGROUND

Chronic systemic inflammation has been linked to premature mortality and limited somatic as well as mental health with consequences for capability to work and everyday functioning. We recently identified three biochemical clusters of endocrine and immune parameters (C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), fibrinogen, cortisol and creatinine) in participants, age 35-81 years, of the open access Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS) dataset. These clusters have been validated in an independent cohort of Japanese mid-life adults. Among these clusters, the one characterized by high inflammation coupled with low cortisol and creatinine concentrations was associated with the highest disease burden, referred to as high-risk cluster in the following. The current study aims to further examine the nature of this cluster and specifically whether it predicts mortality and the reported inability to work the last 30 days 10 years after the biomarker assessment.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Longitudinally assessed health data from N ​= ​1234 individuals were analyzed in the current study. Logistic regression analyses were performed to predict mortality within one decade after first assessment (T0 ​= ​first assessment; T1 ​= ​second assessment). General linear models were used to predict the number of days study participants were unable to work due to health issues in the last 30 days (assessed at T1, analyses restricted to individuals <70 years of age). Biological sex, disease burden, and age at T0 were used as covariates in all analyses. Individuals in the previously identified high-risk cluster had a higher risk for mortality (22% of individuals deceased between T0 and T1 versus 10% respectively 9% in the two other clusters). Logistic regression models predicting mortality resulted in a significant difference between individuals from the high-risk cluster compared to those from an identified reference cluster (indicator method, p ​= ​.012), independently of age and disease burden. Furthermore, individuals in the high-risk cluster reported a higher number of disability days during the past 30 days (3.4 days in the high-risk cluster versus 1.5 respectively 1.0 days in the reference clusters) assessed at T1. All pairwise comparisons involving the high-risk cluster were significant (all ps ​< ​.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Immune-endocrine profiles are predictive of mortality within the following decade over and above age and disease burden. The findings thus highlight the importance of biomarker-based risk profiling that may provide new targets for interventions in the context of preventive medicine in the transition from health to disease and disease-related mortality.

How biomarker patterns can be utilized to identify individuals with a high disease burden: a bioinformatics approach towards predictive, preventive, and personalized (3P) medicine

Prevalences of non-communicable diseases such as depression and a range of somatic diseases are continuously increasing requiring simple and inexpensive ways to identify high-risk individuals to target with predictive and preventive approaches. Using k-mean cluster analytics, in study 1, we identified biochemical clusters (based on C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, fibrinogen, cortisol, and creatinine) and examined their link to diseases. Analyses were conducted in a US American sample (from the Midlife in the US study, N = 1234) and validated in a Japanese sample (from the Midlife in Japan study, N = 378). In study 2, we investigated the link of the biochemical clusters from study 1 to childhood maltreatment (CM). The three identified biochemical clusters included one cluster (with high inflammatory signaling and low cortisol and creatinine concentrations) indicating the highest disease burden. This high-risk cluster also reported the highest CM exposure. The current study demonstrates how biomarkers can be utilized to identify individuals with a high disease burden and thus, may help to target these high-risk individuals with tailored prevention/intervention, towards personalized medicine. Furthermore, our findings raise the question whether the found biochemical clusters have predictive character, as a tool to identify high-risk individuals enabling targeted prevention. The finding that CM was mostly prevalent in the high-risk cluster provides first hints that the clusters could indeed have predictive character and highlight CM as a central disease susceptibility factor and possibly as a leverage point for disease prevention/intervention.

Hidden hypercortisolism: a too frequently neglected clinical condition

PURPOSE

Classic Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a severe disease characterized by central obesity, hypertension, easy bruising, striae rubrae, buffalo hump, proximal myopathy and hypertricosis. However, several CS cases have also been reported with unusual or camouflaged manifestations. In recent years, several authors investigated the prevalence of "hidden hypercortisolism" (HidHyCo) among subjects affected with bone fragility, hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). The prevalence of the HidHyCo is estimated to be much higher than that of classic CS. However, similarly to classic CS, HidHyCo is known to increase the risk of fractures, cardiovascular disease and mortality.

METHODS

We reviewed all published cases of unusual presentations of hypercortisolism and studies specifically assessing the HidHyCo prevalence in diabetic, osteoporotic and hypertensive patients.

RESULTS

We found 49 HidHyCo cases, in whom bone fragility, hypertension and diabetes were the presenting manifestations of an otherwise silent hypercortisolism. Amongst these cases, 34.7%, 32.7%, 6.1% and 19.0%, respectively, had bone fragility, hypertension, DM2 or hypertension plus DM2 as the sole clinical manifestations of HidHyCo. Overall, 25% of HidHyCo cases were of pituitary origin, and bone fragility was the very prevalent first manifestation among them. In population studies, it is possible to estimate that 1-4% of patients with apparent primary osteoporosis has a HidHyCo and the prevalence of this condition among diabetics ranges between 3.4 and 10%.

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that patients with resistant or suddenly worsening hypertension or DM2 or unexplainable bone fragility should be screened for HidHyCo using the most recently approved sensitive cut-offs.

When to suspect hidden hypercortisolism in type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), the prevalence of hidden hypercortisolism (HidHyCo, formally called subclinical hypercortisolism or mild autonomous cortisol secretion) was estimated to be 2.2-12.1%. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the available literature helps to identify the characteristics of T2D patients more frequently associated with HidHyCo.

METHODS

A meta-analysis was performed using studies that assessed both the prevalence of HidHyCo in patients with T2D and the characteristics of these patients with and without HidHyCo. The DerSimonian and Laird (DSL) and the Hartung, Knapp, Sidik and Jonkman (HKSJ) methods were utilized.

RESULTS

Among the 18 available studies, 6 studies provided the necessary data. The association between HidHyCo and advanced T2D (based on the patients' description given in each study in presence of micro/ microvascular complications, or insulin treatment plus hypertension, or hypertension treated with ≥2 drugs), hypertension, insulin treatment and dyslipidemia was reported in 5 (2184 patients), 6 (2283 patients), 3 (1440 patients), and 3 (987 patients) studies, respectively. HidHyCo was associated with advanced T2D as assessed with both DSL (odds ratio, OR, 3.47, 95% Confidence Interval, 95%CI, 2.12-5.67) and HKSJ method (OR 3.60, 95%CI 2.03-6.41) and with the prevalence of hypertension or of insulin treatment as assessed by the DSL approach (OR 1.92, 95%CI 1.05-3.50 and OR 2.29, 95%CI 1.07-4.91, respectively), but not as assessed with HKSJ method.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with advanced T2D have a higher prevalence of HidHyCo. These data inform about the selection of T2D patients for HidHyCo screening.

Etiology, baseline clinical profile and comorbidities of patients with Cushing's syndrome at a single endocrinological center

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to compare phenotype of patients with pituitary, adrenal and ectopic CS and identify the differences regarding biochemical parameters, clinical presentations, and comorbidities in CS patients who were diagnosed at the single endocrinological center in Wroclaw.

METHODS

The study population involved 64 patients with CS (53 women and 11 men) diagnosed in Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Isotope Therapy in 2000-2018. Patients were divided into three etiologic groups: pituitary dependent-CS (P-CS) (64%), adrenal dependent CS (A-CS) (25%), and CS from an ectopic source (E-CS) (11%).

RESULTS

Percentage of men in the A-CS group was significantly higher than in the other etiologic groups. ACTH, UFC, and cortisol in DST were significantly higher in E-CS group compare to P-CS and A-CS (p < 0.05). Mean potassium level in E-CS group was significantly lower than in P-CS and A-CS (p < 0.05). Median of time elapsed to diagnosis was significantly lower in the E-CS group compared with either the P-CS and the A-CS group (p < 0.01). The most frequently symptoms in CS patients were skin alterations (82.8%), weight gain (81.2%), and hypertension (81.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

The epidemiology of CS is changing toward a growing proportion of A-CS. All patients with E-CS presented a profound hypokalemia. Salient hypokalemia could be a biochemical marker more suggestive for E-CS rather than P-CS. The incidence of diabetes is more frequent in E-CS group than in P-CS and A-CS groups.

Assessment of 1 mg Dexamethasone Suppression Test in Patients with Obesity Before Bariatric Surgery

PURPOSE

This study aims to examine the prevalence of Cushing's syndrome (CS) in class 3 obese patients before bariatric surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data of 1037 class 3 obese patients admitted to the endocrinology outpatient clinic for endocrinological evaluation before bariatric surgery between 2012 and 2019were reviewed retrospectively. One milligram dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was used for the evaluation of hypercortisolism in all cases and cutoff accepted as 1.8 μg/dL.

RESULTS

The mean body mass index (BMI) was 48 ± 8.9 kg/m² and age was 42 ± 10 years with female preponderance (F/M: 799/238] being observed in this cohort. Insufficient cortisol suppression was found in 40 patients; confirmed hypercortisolemia was detected in 8 patients. The prevalence of pathologic DST was 3.85% and 0.77% in confirmed hypercortisolism. The specificity for 1-mg DST with the cutoff 1.8 μg/dL was calculated as 96.8%.

CONCLUSION

Hypercortisolism prevalence was found to be low, and 1 mg DST is a sufficient test for the screening of CS in class 3 obese patients evaluated before bariatric surgery.

Adrenal Hypercortisolism: A Closer Look at Screening, Diagnosis, and Important Considerations of Different Testing Modalities

Although prolonged hypercortisolism is associated with increased mortality and substantial morbidity, the clinical signs and symptoms are wide ranging and often nonspecific, contributing to challenges in diagnosis, as well as treatment delays. Greater awareness is needed among clinicians to help identify which patients should undergo biochemical screening for excess cortisol. Several biochemical tests are available, each with important caveats that should be considered in the context of the individual patient. Cortisol secretion varies widely, further complicating the biochemical diagnosis of hypercortisolism, which relies on the use of definitive cutoff values. Patients with hypercortisolism resulting from adrenal adenomas, including those discovered incidentally, often do not present with overt Cushingoid features (plethora, striae, muscle weakness, moon facies, etc.). However, the consequences of prolonged exposure to even slight elevations in cortisol levels are profound, including increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, fractures, cardiovascular events, and mortality. Because most cases of hypercortisolism resulting from an adrenal adenoma can be managed, it is imperative to identify patients at risk and initiate testing early for the best outcomes. The aim of this report is to increase awareness of the indications for screening for hypercortisolism and to review the biochemical screening tests and diagnosis for hypercortisolism associated with adrenal adenomas.

Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as a public health issue worldwide and is highly prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, there was a great disparity across studies in the estimated prevalence of NAFLD in T2DM patients. This meta-analysis, therefore, aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of NAFLD in T2DM patients.

METHODS

Electronic databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang were searched using MeSH terms to identify relevant studies. Eligibility assessment and data extraction were conducted independently by 2 investigators and a meta-analysis was performed to synthesize the data. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Cochran Q test and quantified using the I statistic. Publication bias was assessed using both the Begg and Egger tests. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify the possible sources of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Twenty-four studies involving 35,599 T2DM patients were included in this meta-analysis, of which 20,264 were identified with NAFLD. A high degree of heterogeneity (I = 99.0%, P < .001) was observed among the eligible studies, with the reported prevalence ranging from 29.6% to 87.1%. The pooled prevalence of NAFLD in T2DM patients, by a random-effects model, was 59.67% (95% confidence interval: 54.31-64.92%). Sensitivity was low and both the Begg test and Egger test showed low possibility of publication bias. Subgroup analyses indicated that the prevalence of NAFLD in T2DM patients differed by gender, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, and chronic kidney disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The high pooled prevalence of NAFLD in T2DM patients found in this study significantly underscores the need for early assessment of NAFLD and the importance of strengthening the management of NAFLD in T2DM patients.

Hepatic lipid accumulation: cause and consequence of dysregulated glucoregulatory hormones

Fatty liver can be diet, endocrine, drug, virus or genetically induced. Independent of cause, hepatic lipid accumulation promotes systemic metabolic dysfunction. By acting as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) ligands, hepatic non-esterified fatty acids upregulate expression of gluconeogenic, beta-oxidative, lipogenic and ketogenic genes, promoting hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and ketosis. The typical hormonal environment in fatty liver disease consists of hyperinsulinemia, hyperglucagonemia, hypercortisolemia, growth hormone deficiency and elevated sympathetic tone. These endocrine and metabolic changes further encourage hepatic steatosis by regulating adipose tissue lipolysis, liver lipid uptake, de novo lipogenesis (DNL), beta-oxidation, ketogenesis and lipid export. Hepatic lipid accumulation may be induced by 4 separate mechanisms: (1) increased hepatic uptake of circulating fatty acids, (2) increased hepatic de novo fatty acid synthesis, (3) decreased hepatic beta-oxidation and (4) decreased hepatic lipid export. This review will discuss the hormonal regulation of each mechanism comparing multiple physiological models of hepatic lipid accumulation. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is typified by increased hepatic lipid uptake, synthesis, oxidation and export. Chronic hepatic lipid signaling through PPARgamma results in gene expression changes that allow concurrent activity of DNL and beta-oxidation. The importance of hepatic steatosis in driving systemic metabolic dysfunction is highlighted by the common endocrine and metabolic disturbances across many conditions that result in fatty liver. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the metabolic dysfunction that develops as a consequence of hepatic lipid accumulation is critical to identifying points of intervention in this increasingly prevalent disease state.