Craniopharyngioma continues to be associated with severe outcomes. Higher morbidity rates are found in patients with early-onset disease (before 10 yr), initial SIHT, or in whom pterional surgery was required. Markers of recurrence are difficult to identify, with SIHT being the most powerful predictor.
Background/Aim: Transition from pediatric to adult care is a challenging turning point. The aim was to evaluate the transition process and needs expressed by patients with chronic endocrine conditions at transition in order to ensure program optimization. Methods: Prospective assessment of the transition period was conducted through completion of standardized questionnaires given to targeted patients. Two types were created: (1) a general questionnaire (GQ) addressing universal aspects of transition, and (2) a specific questionnaire (SQ) exploring concerns related to each endocrine condition. Three endocrinopathies (congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and growth hormone deficiency) were selected for assessment since they present specific challenges requiring characterization. Results: Over the last decade, 244 patients in transition were registered in our department and 153 were included since they presented one of the endocrinopathies selected. A total of 73 subjects completed both the GQ and the SQ. Over 80% of the patients were satisfied with the transition process in terms of organization, accessibility and medical care. The actual age of transition corresponded for most to the age considered by patients as ideal for transition. SQs identified psychosexual issues that must be addressed more systematically. Conclusion: This study identified key elements allowing the creation of an improved transition program tailored for our center and for each endocrine condition studied.
BackgroundHealth-related quality of life (QoL) in adult patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) has been variously reported. However, there is no study evaluating the impact of transition on quality of life.MethodsAdult patients with classic or non-classic CAH diagnosed during childhood CAH, born between 1970 and 1990, were recruited from the registers of Pediatric departments belonging to the French reference center for endocrine rare disease. Primary end point was the QoL (WHOQOL-BREF).ResultsSeventy-three patients were included in the study, among them 59/73 were transferred to adult endocrinologist by their pediatricians for transition. WHOQOL-BREF scores were similar between patients with or without transition to specialist adult services, except for environment dimension score, which was slightly higher in CAH patients without transition. However, CAH patients with a regular follow-up had a better physical health, psychological health and environment score and item global QoL than the group without regular follow-up after transition.ConclusionRegular medical follow-up in adulthood is associated with the transition between pediatric and adult care and is associated with better QoL in adults with CAH.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.