Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Study shows scale of prevalence of a condition that can cause type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure

A study by scientists in a UK university has shown the scale of the prevalence of a condition that can lead to various cardiometabolic diseases.

The study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal on Tuesday (January 4) has prompted calls for changes to healthcare policy after researchers revealed, for the first time, the scale of the impact of the condition associated with benign tumors that can lead to type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.


Up to 10 per cent of adults have a benign tumour, or lump, known as an 'adrenal incidentaloma' in their adrenal glands which can be associated with the overproduction of hormones including the stress steroid hormone cortisol that can lead to type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Previous small studies suggested that one in three adrenal incidentalomas produce excess cortisol, a condition called mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS).

An international research team led by the University of Birmingham carried out the largest ever prospective study of over 1,305 patients with adrenal incidentalomas to assess their risk of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes and their cortisol production by comparing patients with and without MACS.

The study was also the first to undertake a detailed analysis of the steroid hormone production in patients by analysing cortisol and related hormones by mass spectrometry in the 24-hour urine samples they collected.

Their study findings showed that MACS is much more prevalent than previously reported: with almost every second patient in the study with an adrenal incidentaloma having MACS.

Notably, 70 per cent of patients with MACS were women and most of them were of postmenopausal age (aged over 50). Following their findings, the researchers estimated that up to 1.3 million adults in the UK could have MACS.

Considering that around two out of three of these patients are women, MACS is potentially a key contributor to women's metabolic health, in particular in women after menopause.

The first author Dr Alessandro Prete, of the University of Birmingham's Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, said: "Compared to those without MACS, we observed that patients with MACS were more likely to be diagnosed with high blood pressure and to require three or more tablets to achieve an adequate blood pressure control.

When we looked at patients with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, those with MACS were twice more likely to be treated with insulin, indicating that other medications haven't helped manage their blood sugar levels.

In conclusion, our study found that MACS is very frequent and is an important risk condition for high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, especially in older women, and the impact of MACS on high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes risk has been underestimated until now."

Senior author Professor Wiebke Arlt, director of the University of Birmingham's Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, said: "Previous studies suggested that MACS is associated with poor health. However, our study is the largest ever study to establish conclusively the extent of the risk and severity of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes in patients with MACS.

"Our hope is that this research will put a spotlight on this condition and increase awareness of its impact on health. We advocate that all patients who are found to carry an adrenal incidentaloma are tested for MACS and have their blood pressure and glucose levels measured regularly."

The study was funded by Diabetes UK, the European Commission, the Medical Research Council, and the Claire Khan Trust Fund at University Hospitals Birmingham Charity.

More For You

Pharmacist Support calls for birthday donations to meet rising demand for mental health services

More and more pharmacy professionals are reaching out for help, said Danielle Hunt.

Pharmacist Support's birthday appeal: Donate to address growing mental health demand

Pharmacist Support – the independent charity dedicated to the pharmacy profession – is celebrating 184 years of service with the launch of a special birthday donations appeal.

On 15 April, the charity is urging individuals and organisations across the sector to support its campaign to raise vital funds to meet the increasing demand for its mental health and wellbeing services.

Keep ReadingShow less
Prostate cancer: At-home saliva test could save NHS £500 million annually

PRS saliva test can identify prostate cancer that was missed by an MRI scan

Photo credit: gettyimages

Prostate cancer: Spit test better than blood test in spotting men at highest risk

A simple at-home spit test could help detect prostate cancer earlier, saving the NHS around £500 million a year, according to new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the study found that the DNA-based saliva test was more accurate than the current prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test in identifying men at risk of developing prostate cancer.

Keep ReadingShow less
RPS launches innovative new learning resources for members

With RPS Learn, pharmacists can develop a new skill or improve their understanding of practice or a clinical topic.

Gettyimages

RPS launches new learning resources to boost career development for members

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has launched a new online learning platform designed to support the practice, development and career advancement of its members.

The new platform, called RPS Learn, offers a diverse range of bite-size learning content, available on-demand, catering to all levels — from introductory to advanced and specialist —combining new content with RPS's renowned expertise in education and training to achieve excellence for learners.

Keep ReadingShow less
NICE approves AstraZeneca’s twice-a-day tablet ‘capivasertib’ for advanced breast cancer

HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer is currently incurable, and treatment aims to slow progression and prolong life

Gettyimages

NICE approves twice-a-day tablet for advanced breast cancer

Every year, thousands of people with hormone receptor (HR)-positive HER2-negative breast cancer could benefit from a new twice-a-day tablet, now set to be funded immediately through the Cancer Drugs Fund.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved the use of capivasertib (also known as Truqap), in combination with fulvestrant, as an option for around 1,100 adults with HR-positive HER2-negative breast cancer that has certain genetic mutations and has spread.

Keep ReadingShow less
ABPI and government fast-track VPAG scheme review to address high medicine payment rates

The 2025 VPAG payment rate for newer medicines has been set at 22.9 per cent.

Photo credit: gettyimages

Review of 2024 VPAG scheme to be completed by June

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the government have agreed to bring forward a planned review of the 2024 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access, and Growth (VPAG), originally scheduled for autumn 2025.

The review is expected to be completed in June 2025, aligning with the anticipated release of the government’s 10-year NHS Plan and the Life Sciences Sector Plan as part of the broader industry strategy this summer.

Keep ReadingShow less