John Anderson, MD

Overcoming Inertia in Hypercortisolism Identification

Video content above is prompted by the following:

How does hypercortisolism affect health care utilization and costs for patients?

How does this compare with patients with other chronic diseases?

How has our understanding of the clinical presentation of hypercortisolism evolved?

Overt, hallmark symptoms and features vs nonspecific features and symptoms overlapping with chronic disease

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Experts discuss how hypercortisolism affects health care utilization and costs for patients, comparing it with patients with other chronic diseases, and how our understanding of the clinical presentation of hypercortisolism has evolved, distinguishing overt hallmark symptoms from nonspecific features overlapping with chronic disease.

Key Learnings From the CATALYST Study on Hypercortisolism Prevalence

What are some of the challenges of identifying and diagnosing hypercortisolism?

The diagnosis of hypercortisolism is often delayed by several years. Why do you think that the diagnosis of hypercortisolism is often delayed or missed?

Hypercortisolism presents with a wide spectrum of clinical signs and symptoms. How does this affect clinicians’ ability to diagnose this condition?

The prevalence of hypercortisolism in certain at-risk patients is higher than previously thought. Can you discuss some of the recent data on hypercortisolism prevalence?

Prevalence of hypercortisolism in patients with difficult-to-control diabetes was 24%.

Prevalence of hypercortisolism in patients with difficult-to-control diabetes and difficult-to-control hypertension was 40%.

Patients with cardiovascular disease had a higher prevalence of hypercortisolism than those without (33.3% vs 20.9%).

Experts discuss the challenges of identifying and diagnosing hypercortisolism, the reasons behind its often-delayed diagnosis, the impact of a wide spectrum of clinical signs and symptoms on clinicians’ ability to diagnose the condition, and recent data on the prevalence of hypercortisolism in at-risk populations, including those with difficult-to-control diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

Advances in the Understanding of Hypercortisolism

How can hypercortisolism affect a patient’s long-term health and quality of life?

Long-term risks remain for patients even if hypercortisolism remission is achieved, including incomplete resolution of comorbidities, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality risk.

What are some of the consequences of a delayed or missed hypercortisolism diagnosis?

Increased risk of cardiometabolic abnormalities, osteoporosis, and psychiatric disorders

Increase in mortality rate compared with the general population

Experts discuss the long-term health impacts of hypercortisolism, including unresolved comorbidities and increased mortality risk, the consequences of delayed diagnosis, and how the understanding of its clinical presentation has evolved.

Defining Hypercortisolism and Its Impact on Physical and Mental Health

Can you describe the physical impact of hypercortisolism on a patient? How does this condition affect patients’ overall health?

Experts discuss the physical impact of hypercortisolism on a patient, how the condition affects overall health, and the long-term risks that remain even after remission, including incomplete resolution of comorbidities, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality risk.

John Anderson, MD

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