Higher incidence of morbidity in women than men with non-functioning pituitary adenoma: a Swedish nationwide study

Objective: Increased mortality rates are found in women and young adults with non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs). This nationwide study aimed to investigate the burden of comorbidities in patients with NFPA and to examine whether gender influences the outcome. Design: NFPA patients were identified and followed-up from National Registries in Sweden. It was a nationwide, population-based study. Method: Standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) for comorbidities with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Comorbidities were analysed in all patients, both patients with and without hypopituitarism. Results: Included in the analysis were 2795 patients (1502 men, 1293 women), diagnosed with NFPA between 1987 and 2011. Hypopituitarism was reported in 1500 patients (54%). Mean patient-years at risk per patient was 7 (range 0-25). Both men (SIR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.8-2.5; P < 0.001) and women (2.9, 2.4-3.6; P < 0.001) had a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) than the general population, with women having a higher incidence compared with men (P = 0.02). The incidence of myocardial infarction was increased in women (1.7, 1.3-2.1; P < 0.001), but not in men. Both men (1.3, 1.1-1.6; P = 0.006) and women (2.3; 1.9-2.8; P < 0.001) had an increased incidence of cerebral infarction, with women having a higher incidence than men (P < 0.001). The incidence of sepsis was increased for both genders. The incidence of fractures was increased in women (1.8, 1.5-1.8; P < 0.001), but not for men. Conclusions: This nationwide study shows excessive morbidity due to T2DM, cerebral infarction and sepsis in all NFPA patients. Women had higher incidence of T2DM, myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction and fracture in comparison to both the general population and to men.