Changes in quality of life 6 months after parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism

Abstract

Objective: The extent of symptoms due to primary hyperparathyroidism depends on the population being studied. Primary hyperparathyroidism is mainly discovered incidentally through routine laboratory findings. Less is known about patient-experienced improvement following successful parathyroidectomy. The aim of our study was to assess changes in Quality of Life after successful surgery using an SF-36 questionnaire. Design: This is a prospective cohort study based on questionnaires. Methods: Forty consecutive patients diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism were prospectively administered an SF-36 questionnaire before and 6 months after successful parathyroidectomy. A subgroup of 18 patients answered the questionnaire at 1 and 3 months after surgery. Successful surgery was based on biochemistry and pathology reports as confirmed by an endocrinologist. Results of each SF-36 subcategory were compared to results at baseline in order to detect changes in patient-reported quality of life after successful surgery. Results: There were significant improvements in six of eight SF-36 subcategories: Vitality (P = 0.0001), Physical functioning (P = 0.04), General health perception (P = 0.004), Physical role functioning (P = 0.04), Social role functioning (P = 0.004) and Mental health perception (P = 0.0001). Changes appeared within a month after surgery with no further significant changes at later time points. Conclusions: Parathyroidectomy significantly improves QoL as measured by a decrease in SF-36 scores as early as 1 month after successful parathyroidectomy. The SF-36 QoL questionnaire is suitable for monitoring changes in patient wellbeing after successful parathyroidectomy.

Neuroendocrine Parathyroid Tumors: Quality of Life in Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism

“…Similar data were revealed by Christensen et al [17] in a prospective study from 2022 on 40 patients with PHP (median age of 62 years, ranges between 28 and 82; 65% were females). Out of the eight domains of SF-36, six categories showed a statistically significant increase 6 months post-PTx, three of them concerning PCS: VT (p = 0.0001), PF (p = 0.038), RP (p = 0.043), and another three concerning MCS: GH (p = 0.004), SF (p = 0.004), MH (p = 0.0001) [17]. Interestingly, some of the patients were enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic, which did not seem to affect the study results [17].…”

“…As previously mentioned, PTH-dependent hypercalcemia displays a certain influence on QoL, but not all studies agree on this matter [17,24,25]. For example, Christensen et al [17] did not identify a significant relationship between QoL and calcium levels dynamics, as oppsed to other researchers.…”

“…As previously mentioned, PTH-dependent hypercalcemia displays a certain influence on QoL, but not all studies agree on this matter [17,24,25]. For example, Christensen et al [17] did not identify a significant relationship between QoL and calcium levels dynamics, as oppsed to other researchers. In the already-mentioned study of Tzikos et al [25], the non-PTx group with asymptomatic PHP had baseline total calcemic directly correlated to PAS-Q scores (r = 0.524, p = 0.018).…”

“…Out of the eight domains of SF-36, six categories showed a statistically significant increase 6 months post-PTx, three of them concerning PCS: VT (p = 0.0001), PF (p = 0.038), RP (p = 0.043), and another three concerning MCS: GH (p = 0.004), SF (p = 0.004), MH (p = 0.0001) [17]. Interestingly, some of the patients were enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic, which did not seem to affect the study results [17]. However, the clear overall effects of lockdown regulations on QoL scores and other complications of PHP amid the pandemic are yet to be determined [18].…”

Parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism: effect on quality of life after 3 years – a prospective cohort study

“…The question of HR-QoL after PTX for PHPT is still a matter of controversy. On the one hand, short-term studies, mostly observational, have suggested an improvement within the first 15 months after PTX using the SF-36 questionnaire 12 , 17 , 37 , 38 . The largest study comes from Weber et al .…”