CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH GROWTH-HORMONE DEFICIENCY

Patients with adult onset growth hormone deficiency have a decreased l ife expectancy owing to an increased mortality from cardiovascular dis ease. In the present study, 104 subjects (66 men and 38 women, aged 22 -74 years) with growth hormone deficiency and with adequate replacemen t therapy with glucocorticoids. thyroid hormones and gonadal steroids were studied with respect to known risk factors for cardiovascular dis ease. For comparison, data from a population study, ''the MONICA study '', were obtained. The patients had a significantly higher body mass i ndex compared to controls (p < 0.001). Serum triglyceride concentratio n was higher (p < 0.001) but there was no difference in serum total ch olesterol concentration. Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol co ncentration was lower (p < 0.001) in the patients. There was no differ ence in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of treated hypertension was higher (p < 0.05) in the patients but the prevalence of smoking was lower (p < 0.001). Even after taking the increased bod y mass index into consideration, the changes in the prevalence of trea ted hypertension (p < 0.05) and in the serum concentrations of triglyc erides (p < 0.05) and high-density lipoprotein concentrations (p < 0.0 01) remained. These results indicate that growth hormone deficiency al ters lipoprotein metabolism and increases the risk for development of hypertension, which in turn might contribute to the increased risk for cardiovascular disease.