If left untreated, Addison’s disease can be life-threatening. Complications of Addison’s disease include hypoglycemia, addisonian crisis, hypoxia, hypovolemic shock, cardiac arrest, stroke. Prognosis is generally good in patients with Addison’s disease as long as they are on life time hormone replacement therapy.

If left untreated, Addison’s disease can be life-threatening. Any stressful event or illness can cause a sudden worsening of symptoms, which can lead to severe dehydration and fatally low blood pressure and eventually death.

Complications of Addison’s disease include:^[1]

• Hypoglycemia
• Addisonian crisis
• Hypoxia
• Hypovolemic shock
• Cardiac arrest
• Stroke

• Prognosis is generally good in patients with Addison’s disease as long as they are on life-time hormonal therapy.^[2][3]
• Patients with Addison’s disease must be closely monitored for compliance with medications as acute cases can be life-threating and the mortality rates can go up to 95% in acute crisis.