Adrenal insufficiency (AI) results in reduced production of steroid hormones which are essential for life. It can be primary, secondary or tertiary. Primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI), also known as Addison’s disease, affects approximately 100-140 people per million in developed countries. In this course we discuss the causes of AI, how to recognise and diagnose the condition in primary care, and management. We also cover adrenal crisis, including how to recognise this potentially fatal condition, and the emergency treatment which should be delivered before hospital transfer.
An educational grant was received by the Addison’s Disease Self-Help Group (ADSHG) for the production of this course. Part of the funding was as a benefit of an unrestricted grant from Diurnal Limited. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.
