ORIGINAL ARTICLES
IMAJ | volume 24
Journal 7, July 2022
pages: 448-453
High Prevalence of Acromegaly in Different Industrial Areas: A Population-based Study from Haifa and Western Galilee District in Northern Israel
- Adnan Zaina ,
- Ilan Shimon ,
- Ali Abid ,
- Eldad Arad ,
- Elzbieta Baron ,
- Elena Golden ,
- Michal Gershinsky ,
- Nariman Saba Khazen ,
- Mohammed Abu Saleh,
- Noga Roguin Maor ,
- Orit Bardicef ,
- Yulia Pauker ,
- Sameer Kassem
1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Zvulun Medical Center, Kiryat Bialik, Israel
2Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
3Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petah Tikva, Israel
4Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
5Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Lin Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
6Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion–Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
7Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Clalit Health Services, Carmiel, Israel
8Department of Family Medicine, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel
9Department of Internal Medicine, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
Summary
Background:
National registries for acromegaly and population-based data make an important contribution to disease understanding and management. Data concerning the epidemiology of acromegaly in Israel is scanty.
Objectives:
To evaluate the epidemiology of acromegaly in different industrial areas in northern Israel.
Methods:
Data from adult patients diagnosed with acromegaly from 2000 to 2020, living in Haifa and the western Galilee District were collected using the electronic database and medical records from Clalit Health Services. The prevalence of acromegaly in three distinct areas and overall were reported. In addition, other epidemiological data including associated co-morbidities, pituitary tumor size, and treatment modalities were collected.
Results:
We identified 77 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of acromegaly. The overall prevalence was 155 cases/10
6 inhabitants without statistically significant differences between the three areas. The mean age at diagnosis was 50 ± 1.8 years and the male to female ratio was 1.1. Macroadenoma and microadenoma were identified in 44 (57%) and 25 (33%), respectively. The frequency rate of acromegaly-associated co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, carpal tunnel syndrome, and osteoporosis was similar to previously reported studies. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 29 ± 5.6 kg/m
2 .Obesity, with a BMI ≥ of 30 kg/m
2, was found in 29 patients (38%). The majority of patients underwent transsphenoidal surgery 67 (87%). Normalized insulin-like growth factor 1 was reported in 64 (83%).
Conclusions:
A high prevalence of acromegaly was found in northern Israel. The pituitary microadenoma frequency rate is the highest reported.