Endocrine Abstracts

Endogenous Cushing’s syndrome (CS) causes a host of recognized physical and psychological complications, but the socioeconomic consequences of CS have not been as well-described. We recently conducted a comprehensive analysis of how patients’ socioeconomic factors change before diagnosis and after treatment compared to healthy controls. In a Danish nationwide cohort, patients with CS had lower rates of employment, lower income, delayed educations, and negatively affected family lives. The negative socioeconomic trends began up to six years before the CS diagnosis was made. Both our data and previous studies indicate that socioeconomic factors show some improvement after treatment, but never fully normalize and the prognosis varies considerably by patient factors. The management of non-somatic issues in patients during their recovery phase lacks evidence-based guidance. Multiple studies have identified recurring themes of unmet patient needs. Incorporating initiatives on patient education, support groups, and specialized rehabilitation into clinical practice could address some of these issues.