To investigate the risk of psychiatric and sleep disorders in individuals with nonfunctional adrenal tumors (NFATs), hypothesizing that mild cortisol dysregulation may contribute to these issues.
Key Findings:
Patients with NFATs had a higher prevalence of previous psychiatric and/or sleep disorders compared to controls (OR 2.11; 95% CI 2.03-2.19).
The incidence of psychiatric and/or sleep disorders was significantly higher in NFAT patients than in controls during the follow-up period (HR 1.92; 95% CI 1.83-2.02).
Similar increases were observed across all secondary outcomes and sensitivity analyses.
Interpretation:
NFATs are associated with an increased risk of psychiatric and sleep disorders, suggesting that even mild cortisol dysregulation may have significant mental health implications, warranting clinical attention.
Limitations:
The study did not include biochemical values such as cortisol levels, which may limit understanding of the relationship.
Exclusion of hormonally active lesions may limit generalizability, and potential biases inherent in retrospective studies should be acknowledged.
Conclusion:
The findings indicate a notable association between NFATs and mental health disorders, warranting further investigation into the effects of adrenalectomy on these conditions, particularly in relation to cortisol levels and mental health outcomes.
