The epidemiology of hyperprolactinaemia over 20 years in the Tayside region of Scotland: The Prolactin Epidemiology, Audit, and Research Study (PROLEARS)

TY - JOUR

T1 - The epidemiology of hyperprolactinaemia over 20 years in the Tayside region of Scotland

T2 - The Prolactin Epidemiology, Audit, and Research Study (PROLEARS)

AU - Soto-Pedre, Enrique

AU - Newey, Paul J.

AU - Bevan, John S.

AU - Greig, Neil

AU - Leese, Graham P.

N1 - Clinical Endocrinology Trust. Grant Number: 288679

PY - 2017/1

Y1 - 2017/1

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and incidence of hyperprolactinaemia. Hyperprolactinaemia is a common problem in endocrine practice, but its epidemiology has not been accurately established.STUDY DESIGN: A population-based retrospective follow up study in Tayside, Scotland (population 400,000) from 1993 to 2013.PATIENTS: Record-linkage technology (biochemistry, prescribing, hospital admissions, radiology, mortality and maternity data) was used to identify all patients with a serum prolactin measurement. From these, cases were defined as those with a prolactin greater than 1000mU/L (47.2ng/ml) or at least three prescriptions for a dopamine agonist.MEASUREMENTS: Number of prevalent and incident cases of hyperprolactinaemia per calendar year by age, sex and cause of hyperprolactinaemia.RESULTS: A total of 32,289 patients had a serum prolactin assay undertaken, of which 1,301 had hyperprolactinaemia not related to pregnancy: 25.6% patients were pituitary-disorder 45.9% drug-induced, 7.5% related to macroprolactin, and 6.1% related to hypothyroidism, leaving 15.0% idiopathic. Over the 20 years there was a fourfold increase in the number of prolactin assays performed and prevalence of hyperprolactinaemia was initially 0.02%, but rose to 0.23% by 2013. Overall incidence was 13.8 cases per 100,000 person-years (20.6 in 2008-13) and was 3.5 times higher in women than in men. The highest rates were found in women aged 25-44 years. Drug-induced causes tripled during the 20 years.CONCLUSIONS: Rising prevalence of hyperprolactinaemia is probably due to increased ascertainment and increased incidence of psychoactive drug-related causes. Rates are higher in women than in men but only before the age of 65 years. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and incidence of hyperprolactinaemia. Hyperprolactinaemia is a common problem in endocrine practice, but its epidemiology has not been accurately established.STUDY DESIGN: A population-based retrospective follow up study in Tayside, Scotland (population 400,000) from 1993 to 2013.PATIENTS: Record-linkage technology (biochemistry, prescribing, hospital admissions, radiology, mortality and maternity data) was used to identify all patients with a serum prolactin measurement. From these, cases were defined as those with a prolactin greater than 1000mU/L (47.2ng/ml) or at least three prescriptions for a dopamine agonist.MEASUREMENTS: Number of prevalent and incident cases of hyperprolactinaemia per calendar year by age, sex and cause of hyperprolactinaemia.RESULTS: A total of 32,289 patients had a serum prolactin assay undertaken, of which 1,301 had hyperprolactinaemia not related to pregnancy: 25.6% patients were pituitary-disorder 45.9% drug-induced, 7.5% related to macroprolactin, and 6.1% related to hypothyroidism, leaving 15.0% idiopathic. Over the 20 years there was a fourfold increase in the number of prolactin assays performed and prevalence of hyperprolactinaemia was initially 0.02%, but rose to 0.23% by 2013. Overall incidence was 13.8 cases per 100,000 person-years (20.6 in 2008-13) and was 3.5 times higher in women than in men. The highest rates were found in women aged 25-44 years. Drug-induced causes tripled during the 20 years.CONCLUSIONS: Rising prevalence of hyperprolactinaemia is probably due to increased ascertainment and increased incidence of psychoactive drug-related causes. Rates are higher in women than in men but only before the age of 65 years. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

U2 - 10.1111/cen.13156

DO - 10.1111/cen.13156

M3 - Article

C2 - 27434534

SN - 0300-0664

VL - 86

SP - 60

EP - 67

JO - Clinical Endocrinology

JF - Clinical Endocrinology

IS - 1

ER -