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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Dec 1.
Published in final edited form as: Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2018 Jul 23;89(6):721–733. doi: 10.1111/cen.13803

Table 3.

Univariate analysis: postoperative glucocorticoid therapy duration and demographic, clinical, biochemical and imaging characteristics.

Characteristic Postoperative glucocorticoid therapy duration, months P
A. Demographic Characteristics
Sex Male 1.2 (0.6–4.0) 0.002
Female 5.7 (20.−12.3)
BMI for each 3 kg/m2 decrease additional 0.9 (0.8–0.9) 0.04
Age at the time of diagnosis < 45 years old 11.4 (5.1–14.0) 0.001
≥ 45 years old 2.3 (1.1–6.0)
Duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis, years ≤ 1 year 2.8 (1.2–6.2) 0.0007
> 1 year 11.4 (2.2–16.9)
Mode of Discovery Incidental 2.4 (1.2–6.0) 0.004
Hormonal Excess 9.2 (5.7–13.5)
B. Tumor Characteristics
Size of adrenal tumor, mm ≥40 2.8 (0.9–6.0) 0.02
<40 6.0 (1.8–13.5)
C. Clinical Characteristics
Weight gain prior to diagnosis No 2.2 (1.1–5.1) 0.01
Yes 5.9 (1.8–13.1)
D. Physical Exam Findings
Moon Facies No 2.2 (1.1–5.8) <0.0001
Yes 11.4 (5.7–16.0)
Supraclavicular or dorsocervical fat pads No 2.3 (1.0–5.9) 0.003
Yes 8.5 (3.1–13.5)
Skin changes No 2.6 (1.2–6.0) 0.0006
Yes 12.1 (6.3–16.0)
Abdominal Obesity No 2.8 (1.2–6.0) 0.007
Yes 8.5 (2.2–13.5)
Myopathy No 2.7 (1.2–6.2) 0.002
Yes 13.1 (6.0–16.0)
Number of physical findings a 0–1 2.2 (1.0–4.9) <0.0001
2–3 5.7 (2.0–12.3)
4–5 12.1 (6.3–16.9)
E. Laboratory Results
Urine free cortisol, μg/24h, nmol/24h, n=71
(Reference range: 3.5–45 μg/24h, 10–124 nmol/24h)
≤45, ≤124 2.8 (1.1–6.0) 0.0002
>45, >124 9.2 (2.2–16.0)
Post 1-mg DST serum cortisol, μg/dL, nmol/L, n=69
(Reference range: <1.8 μg/dL, <50 nmol/L)
≤10, ≤276 2.2 (1.1–5.7) 0.0004
>10, >276 9.7 (2.3–13.5)
ACTH, pg/mL, pmol/L, n=71
(Reference range: 10–60 pg/dL, 2.2–13.2 pmol/L, AM draw)
>10, >2.2 1.3 (0.7–3.5) 0.0006
≤10, ≤2.2 5.8 (2.0–13.1)
Loss of circadian rhythm b, n=44 Yes 9.7 (2.6–14.0) 0.002
No 2.4 (1.8–5.5)
Number of abnormal HPA axis tests c 1–2 2.0 (0.9–4.0) <0.0001
3–4 5.1 (1.6–13.1)
5–6 12.3 (11.4–13.5)
F. Postoperative Variables
Postoperative glucocorticoid use for taper Prednisone 4.0 (1.4–12.3) 0.59
Hydrocortisone 4.0 (1.3–9.2)

Data are summarized as median and interquartile ranges. All P-values <0.05 were considered significant.

a

Physical exam findings included: rounding and/or flushing of the face, abdominal obesity, skin changes (purple striae, thinning and/or easy bruising), subcutaneous supraclavicular and/or dorsocervical fat pads, and objective evidence of muscle weakness;

b

Loss of circadian rhythm defined as changes in normal variability of cortisol throughout the day, i.e. elevated PM cortisol;

c

Laboratory Tests included: 24hr urine free cortisol >45 μg/24h, post 1-mg DST cortisol >10 μg/dL, ACTH <10 pg/mL, midnight salivary cortisol >100 ng/dL, loss of circadian rhythm, and DHEA-S ≤50 μg/dL.

Abbreviations used: ACTH, corticotropin; BMI, body mass index; DHEA-S: Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; DST, dexamethasone suppression test; and, HPA, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal.