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- Title
The effect of treatment on quality of life in patients with acromegaly: a prospective study.
- Authors
Wolters, T. L. C.; Roerink, S. H. P.; Sterenborg, R. B. T. M.; Wagenmakers, M. A. E. M.; Husson, O.; Smit, J. W. A.; Hermus, A. R. M. M.; Netea-Maier, R. T.
- Abstract
Objective: Acromegaly has a negative influence on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Previous studies provide limited information on the course of HRQoL during treatment. Th is study aims to assess the effect of treatment on the course of HRQoL at six predefined time points. Design: This prospective study examines HRQoL in treatment-naive patie nts before and during the first 2.5 years of acromegaly treatment. Methods: Therapy-naive acromegaly patients completed three validated qu estionnaires (RAND-36, AcroQoL, and the Appearance Self-Esteem (ASE)) at six predetermined time points before, during, and after treatment. Outcomes were correlated to IGF1 levels and disease control status. Results: Twenty-seven acromegaly patients completed the questionnaires at all time points. After treatment, all patients had controlled acromegaly. Scores of RAND-36 domains G eneral health, Vitality and Health change, and all AcroQoL dimensions (except for Relations) improved during treat ment (P = 0.003); the largest changes were detected during the first year. Gender influenced HRQoL scores, since Acro QoL scores significantly improved in males but not in females. Over time, IGF1 levels were negatively correlat ed with HRQoL. After 2.5 years of follow-up, HRQoL of controlled patients was still lower than in the general populat ion. Conclusion: HRQoL of acromegaly patients was considerably reduced at diagn osis. Disease control was associated with an improvement of HRQoL scores. Males showed a more pronou nced improvement than females. The largest changes were detected in the first year of treatment. However, H RQoL during and after treatment remained impaired in acromegaly patients, emphasizing the need of additional supp ort.
- Subjects
TREATMENT effectiveness; LONGITUDINAL method; QUALITY of life
- Publication
European Journal of Endocrinology, 2020, Vol 182, Issue 3, p319
- ISSN
0804-4643
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1530/EJE-19-0732