库欣综合征相对少见。以前欧洲文献报道其发生率为每年每百万人中 2-3 例。[17]Etxabe J, Vazquez JA. Morbidity and mortality in Cushing's disease: an epidemiological approach. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1994 Apr;40(4):479-84.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8187313?tool=bestpractice.com[18]Lindholm J, Juul S, Jørgensen JO, et al. Incidence and late prognosis of Cushing's syndrome: a population-based study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Jan;86(1):117-23.http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/86/1/117.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11231987?tool=bestpractice.com 然而,更新的针对高风险人群的研究显示患病率明显增高。据报告,皮质类固醇增多症发病比例在高血压患者中为 0.5%-1%,在未控制的糖尿病患者中为 2%-3%,在肾上腺肿块患者中为 6%-9%,在骨质疏松和椎骨骨折患者中为 11%。[19]Anderson GH Jr, Blankeman N, Streeten DH. The effect of age on prevalence of secondary forms of hypertension in 4429 consecutively referred patients. J Hypertens. 1994 May;12(5):609-15.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7930562?tool=bestpractice.com[20]Omura M, Saito J, Yamaguchi K, et al. Prospective study on the prevalence of secondary hypertension among hypertensive patients visiting a general outpatient clinic in Japan. Hypertens Res. 2004 Mar;27(3):193-202.https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/hypres/27/3/27_3_193/_pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15080378?tool=bestpractice.com[21]Catargi B, Rigalleau V, Poussin A, et al. Occult Cushing's syndrome in type-2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Dec;88(12):5808-13.http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/88/12/5808.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14671173?tool=bestpractice.com[22]Leibowitz G, Tsur A, Chayen SD, et al. Pre-clinical Cushing's syndrome: an unexpected frequent cause of poor glycaemic control in obese diabetic patients. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1996 Jun;44(6):717-22.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8759185?tool=bestpractice.com[23]Reincke M, Nieke J, Krestin GP, et al. Preclinical Cushing's syndrome in adrenal "incidentalomas": comparison with adrenal Cushing's syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1992 Sep;75(3):826-32.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1517373?tool=bestpractice.com[24]Terzolo M, Pia A, Ali A, et al. Adrenal incidentaloma: a new cause of the metabolic syndrome? J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Mar;87(3):998-1003.http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/87/3/998.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11889151?tool=bestpractice.com[25]Chiodini I, Mascia ML, Muscarella S, et al. Subclinical hypercortisolism among outpatients referred for osteoporosis. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Oct 16;147(8):541-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17938392?tool=bestpractice.com 目前尚不清楚,患病率的增加是由于检测敏感性增高、对高风险人群疾病的识别增多,还是过去和最近期研究的诊断标准不同所致。
肾上腺疾病导致的库欣综合征在女性中更常见,发生率是男性的 4 倍;库欣病(分泌促肾上腺皮质激素的垂体肿瘤)的女性与男性发生率之比为 3.5:1。[26]Newell-Price J, Bertagna X, Grossman AB, et al. Cushing's syndrome. Lancet. 2006 May 13;367(9522):1605-17.http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(06)68699-6/fulltexthttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16698415?tool=bestpractice.com 患病率未发现种族差异。尽管该病可以发生在任何年龄段,但大多数成人的确诊年龄在 20-50 岁。儿童病例虽不常见,但病例已被完好记录。[1]Lacroix A, Feelders RA, Stratakis CA, et al. Cushing's syndrome. Lancet. 2015 Aug 29;386(9996):913-27.http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(14)61375-1/fulltexthttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26004339?tool=bestpractice.com[26]Newell-Price J, Bertagna X, Grossman AB, et al. Cushing's syndrome. Lancet. 2006 May 13;367(9522):1605-17.http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(06)68699-6/fulltexthttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16698415?tool=bestpractice.com
外源性糖皮质激素的应用是库欣综合征最常见的原因,但却缺乏确切的流行病学数据。目前的统计数据只包括内源性库欣综合征患者。