What is the cause of death in patients with acromegaly?
- Acromegaly increases cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors, including hypertension, glucose intolerance, cardiomyopathy, and sleep apnea.
- The mortality from inadequately treated acromegaly is about double the expected rate in healthy age-matched subjects.
- Major causes of death include hypertension, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and diabetes.
- Improved treatment has decreased this risk, but there is still a 30% increased risk of mortality in patients with acromegaly.