title: Impaired quality of life in patients in long-term remission of Cushing's syndrome of both adrenal and pituitary origin: a remaining effect of long-standing hypercortisolism?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The determinants that cause impaired quality of life (QOL) in patients in long-term remission of Cushing's syndrome (CS) are unknown. The aim of this study was to get more insight into the patient and disease characteristics related to impaired QOL in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The QOL of 123 patients in remission of CS (age 52.2 ± 12.0 years, 106 women, duration of remission 13.3 ± 10.4 years, 80% pituitary CS), assessed with seven validated questionnaires, was compared with the QOL of an age- and sex-matched control group (n=105). To investigate the influence of the aetiology of CS on QOL, patients in remission of pituitary and adrenal CS were compared. Furthermore, the influence of hormonal deficiencies, treatment strategy, duration of remission, gender and age on QOL was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QOL in the total patient group and each patient subgroup was significantly worse on practically all dimensions of questionnaires compared with the control group (P<0.05), except for patients in remission of pituitary CS without hormonal deficiencies who had an impaired QOL on 50% of the QOL dimensions. Subgroup analysis revealed no difference in QOL between different patient groups, especially no difference between patients in remission of adrenal and pituitary CS. Female gender and a shorter duration of remission had a negative influence on QOL in the patient group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QOL remains impaired in patients in long-term remission of CS regardless of aetiology, presence of hormonal deficiencies and treatment strategies. More research is needed to establish the causes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands. m.wagenmakers@endo.umcn.nl
authors.forename: M A E M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wagenmakers
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Netea-Maier
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Prins
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dekkers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: den Heijer
authors.forename: A R M M
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hermus
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors