Acromegaly in Bulgaria – Epidemiological Characteristics Derived from the National Acromegaly Database
Issue: 3/2010
Author: S. Vandeva, M. Andreeva, M. Orbetsova, D. Charakciev, G. Krilov, A. Elenkova, I. Atanasova, E. Nachev, M. Yaneva, Ph. Kumanov, A. Tomova, M. Marinov, K. Kalinov, K. Hristozov, Z. Kamenov, J. Gerenova, I. Tsinlikov, S. Zacharieva
Abstract:
Acromegaly is a chronic syndrome, due to growth hormone (GH) hypersecretion. Epidemiological characteristics could be evaluated either by analyzing patients from single endocrinology centers or by creating detailed national registries. The aim of the present study was to report the initial results on epidemiological characteristics of acromegalic patients in Bulgaria, using the national acromegaly database.
All six endocrinology centers affiliated to the medical universities in the country, participated in the Bulgarian database. Data of all patients with eligible medical documentation since the 60s till the beginning of 2010 was entered in the data base.
A total number of 742 patients with acromegaly are included in the database. Women were twice as much as men, 465 (62,66%) vs. 277 (37,33%) respectively. Mean age at diagnosis was similar between sexes: 43,68±11,67 in females and 43,40±12,58 in males. The maximum incidence rate was reported in the 80s – 2,9 cases/million/year, followed by a decrease in the last decade – 1,78 cases/million/year. The prevalence of acromegaly was estimated at 48,38 cases/million.
In conclusion, the Bulgarian database is complete enough, allowing exact evaluation of acromegaly epidemiological characteristics and their comparison with analogous European registries. Further analyses would estimate treatment modalities on disease activity and mortality of Bulgarian acromegaly patients.
