"The impact of biochemical control on the quality of life of patients with acromegaly"

Abstract

Purpose: Quality of life (Qol) is undoubtedly important for patient case management. The current goal of a treatment extends therefore beyond biochemical monitoring, including the physical, mental and social state of wellbeing. We aimed to correlate disease activity with the perception of Qol in acromegalic patients. Methods: We performed a single center cross-sectional study on 26 patients: 9 men (34.6%) and 17 women (65.4%), with a mean age of 53 ± 11.5 years. Eleven patients (42.3%) had a biochemically controlled disease, while 15 subjects (57.7%) had an active disease. Results: The mean total score of the quality of life was 60.9 ± 12.6 in women, ranging from 40 to 85, while for men, the mean total score was of 64.04 ± 14.78, ranging from 42 to 85 (p=0.575). There was no significant difference between the mean AcroQol scores of patients with controlled or active disease (62.54 ± 13.42 vs 61.23 ± 13.46, p = 0.804). Patients younger than 60 had a significantly lower total score compared to older patients, (58.36 ± 14.17 vs 64.26 ± 12.44, p=0.047). Rural residents also scored lower than patients belonging to the urban region: (58.18 ± 11.21 vs 67.19 ± 14.39, p=0.048). Disease duration was negatively correlated with total score on AcroQol (r =-0.253, p= 0.045). We did not find significant correlations between GH and IGF1 levels and AcroQol (p=0,622 and p = 0.844, respectively). Conclusions: We found no significant differences between males and females, as well as between patients with active and controlled disease regarding the Qol, but other factors like 72/Bulletin of Integrative Psychiatry New Series  December 2019  Year XXV  No. 4 (83) age or locality provenience may play some role for the perceived health status and quality of life in acromegalic patients