ContextThe transition of patients with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) to adult life for medical care is challenging because of multiple comorbidities, including hormone deficiencies, obesity and cognitive and behavioral disabilities.ObjectiveTo assess endocrine management, and metabolic and anthropometric parameters of PWS adults who received (n = 31) or not (n = 64) transitional care, defined as specialized pediatric care followed by a structured care pathway to a multidisciplinary adult team.Patients and study designHormonal and metabolic parameters were retrospectively recorded in 95 adults with PWS (mean ± s.d. age 24.7 ± 8.2 years, BMI: 39.8 ± 12.1 kg/m²) referred to our Reference Center and compared according to transition.ResultsAmong the entire cohort, 35.8% received growth hormone (GH) during childhood and 16.8% had a GH stimulation test after completion of growth. In adulthood, 14.7% were treated with GH, 56.8% received sex-hormone therapy, whereas 91.1% were hypogonadic and 37.9% had undergone valid screening of the corticotropic axis. The main reason for suboptimal endocrine management was marked behavioral disorders. Patients receiving transitional care were more likely to have had a GH stimulation test and hormonal substitutions in childhood. They also had a lower BMI, percentage of fat mass, improved metabolic parameters and fewer antidepressant treatments. Transitional care remained significantly associated with these parameters in multivariate analysis when adjusted on GH treatment.ConclusionA coordinated care pathway with specialized pediatric care and transition to a multidisciplinary adult team accustomed to managing complex disability including psychiatric troubles are associated with a better health status in adults with PWS.

Objective. The transition period between paediatric and adult medicine is associated with poor patient outcomes and important numbers of patients lost to follow up. Describe the cohort of patients in adult care who benefit from a new transition program based on case management approach. Design. A longitudinal study was led since September 2016 in a French University Hospital. Methods. Patients with any endocrine or metabolic disease diagnosed during childhood and transferred to adult care were included. The transition program includes 3 steps based on case management: liaising with paediatric services, personalising care pathways, liaising with structures outside hospital (General practitioner, educational and social sector). Results. The cohort included 500 patients with malignant brain tumour (n=56 (11%)), obesity (n=55 (11%)), type 1 diabetes (n=54 (11%)), or other disease (n=335 (67%)). They were aged 19 in median at transfer, sex ratio: 0.5. At 21 months of follow-up in median, 439 (88%) have regular follow-up in or outside the hospital, 47 (9%) have irregular follow-up (absence at the last appointment or no appointment scheduled within the time recommended), 4 stopped care on the doctor's advice, 4 died, 3 moved, 3 refused care. The program involved 9,615 case management acts, 7% of patients required more than 50 acts. Patients who required most of support are usually affected by a neuro-cognitive disorder and have social issues. Conclusions. The case manager addresses the complex needs of patients. With time, the cohort will provide unprecedented long-term results of patients with various conditions who went through transition.

Objective. To evaluate the effect of a new care organisation on multiple outcomes of transition success and its cost-effectiveness in patients with any endocrine or metabolic disease diagnosed during childhood and transferred to adult care. Design. Non-randomized controlled trial in a French University Hospital. Methods. Patients transferred to adult care during the control period (04/2014-08/2016) and the intervention period (09/2016-06/2018) were included. The intervention is based on case management involving liaising with paediatric services, personalising care pathways, and liaising with structures outside hospital (general practitioner, educational and social sector). The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients lost to follow-up at 24 months post transfer. Other outcomes were collected from medical files, consultation software, and questionnaires. A cost analysis was performed. Results. 202 patients were included (101 per period) , the most represented pathologies were congenital and non-congenital hypopituitarism (respectively n=34 (17%) and n=45 (22%)) and thyroid diseases (n=21, 10%). Patients were aged 22.5 in median at 24 months post transfer where 12 were lost to follow up in the control group versus 9 with the intervention (p=0.49). The percentage of honoured consultation among those planned during 24 months was higher with intervention (p=0.0065). Patient satisfaction, physician trust, transfer delay did not differ between the groups. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €179 per patient not lost to follow-up. Conclusions. At 24 months post transfer the rate of lost to follow-up does not differ significantly, but indicators of a steadier follow-up are increased and the intervention appears to be cost-effective.