It is not yet fully understood why, but Cushing’s syndrome is more commonly diagnosed in females than in males. It also appears to be more common in the 25 to 40 age group.
Other factors which may increase a person’s risk of Cushing’s syndrome include:
- Obesity, type 2 diabetes and poorly regulated blood glucose levels (blood sugar and hypertension)
- The taking of corticosteroid medications (long-term use)
- Pituitary gland tumours
- A primary adrenal gland disease or benign nodular enlargements of the adrenal glands
- An ectopic ACTH-secreting tumour (a growth that forms on an organ in the body that does not normally produce ACTH, a hormone that regulates cortisol levels)