The prevalence of impaired glucose regulation in anxiety disorder patients and the relationship with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis activity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of impaired glucose regulation (IGR) in patients with anxiety disorders and the relationship with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axes function.

METHODS: From September 2013 to May 2015, a total of 646 patients with anxiety disorders who matched the criteria of the 10(th) revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems participated in our study, which was conducted in the Psychiatric Inpatient Department of the West China Hospital of Sichuan University. The results from 75-g glucose tolerance tests, and morning (8:00 am) serum cortisol (PTC), adrenocorticotropic hormone༈ACTH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), TT3, TT4, FT3, and FT4 levels were collected. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale was administered to assess the severity of anxiety. SPSS 17.0 software was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The crude prevalence of impaired glucose regulation was 24.61% in patients with anxiety disorders patients. In the 18-40 year age group with impaired glucose regulation (IGR), both ACTH and PTC levels were higher than the control group (P<0.05). In the 61-75 year age group with IGR, the TSH level was lower and the FT4 level was higher than the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The results herein partially confirm that the prevalence of IGR in patients with anxiety disorders is high. Impaired glucose in the younger age group is closely associated with HPA axis function, while impaired glucose in the older age group is closely associated with HPT axis alteration. Therefore, routine blood glucose and endocrine function testing in patients with anxiety disorder is of clinical importance to prevent the development of diabetes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.