Impact of parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism on quality of life: A case-control study using Short Form Health Survey 36

Effects of successful parathyroidectomy on neuropsychological and cognitive status in patients with asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism

PURPOSE

Besides typical clinical symptoms, primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is associated with impaired quality of life and cognitive status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life and cognitive impairment in patients with pHPT, before and after parathyroidectomy.

METHODS

We conducted a panel study, which included asymptomatic pHPT patients scheduled for parathyroidectomy. Besides demographic and clinical data, patients' quality of life and cognitive capacity were recorded before, 1 month, and 6 months following parathyroidectomy using the Short Form 36 questionnaire (RAND-36), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Symptom Check List 90-revised version (SCL90R).

RESULTS

During a 2-year follow-up, 101 patients entered the study (88 women), with an average age of 60.7 years. The Global score of RAND-36 test ameliorated by almost 50% 6 months after parathyroidectomy. The most sustained subscores of the RAND-36 test were role functioning/physical and health change, with an improvement of more than 125%. According to the BDI, DASS depression subscore, and SCL90R depression subscore, the extent of depressive symptoms reduction was approximately 60% 6 months postoperatively. The level of anxiety was reduced by 62.4%, measured by both the DASS and SCL90R anxiety subscores. The stress level was almost halved according to the DASS stress subscore (from 10.7 to 5.6 points). The results of the MMSE test showed a significant improvement postoperatively, for 1.2 points (4.4%). A worse preoperative score of each tool was related to the higher magnitude of improvement 6 months after parathyroidectomy.

CONCLUSION

A considerable number of pHPT patients, even without other typical symptoms, show signs of impaired quality of life and neurocognitive status preoperatively. After a successful parathyroidectomy, there is an improvement in quality of life, declined levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as amelioration of cognitive status. Patients with more impaired quality of life and pronounced neurocognitive symptoms may expect more benefits from the surgery.

The Influence of Hyperparathyroidism Patient Profile on Quality of Life After Parathyroidectomy

BACKGROUND

Improvements in quality of life (QoL) after parathyroidectomy in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is discussed. It has not been analyzed whether these improvements can be influenced by a specific socio-personal or clinical patient profile.

OBJECTIVES

to analyze QoL differences after parathyroidectomy and to determine a socio-personal and clinical profile that influences improvement after parathyroidectomy.

METHODS

A longitudinal prospective cohort study in patients with PHPT. SF-36 and PHPQOL questionnaires were completed by the patients. A comparative preoperatory analysis was carried out, at three and twelve months after surgery. Student's t test was used for the correlations. The size of the effect was assessed using G*Power software. A multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the socio-personal and clinical variables affecting the improvement in QoL after surgery.

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients were analyzed. Three months after surgery an improvement was found in physical function, general health, vitality, social function, emotional role, mental health and in the patient's declared health assessment. One year after the intervention a general improvement was observed, with a greater effect on mental health and declared health evolution. Patients with bone pain presented with a higher probability of improvement after surgery. Patients with prior psychological disease had a lower associated probability of an improvement and high levels of PTH related to a greater probability of improvement after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

There is an improvement in the QoL of PHPT patients after parathyroidectomy. Patients with bone pain and high PTH levels prior to the parathyroidectomy present with a greater probability of having a greater improvement in QoL after surgery.

Quality of life, mood and sleep quality in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Impact of socio-personal and clinical profile

INTRODUCTION

Quality of life (QoL) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) can be negatively affected by the disease, and it is important to identify risk factors. The objectives of the present study were to analyze QoL, mood and quality of sleep in patients with PHPT and to determine the impact of socio-personal and clinical variables.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

The study group included patients diagnosed with PHPT, and the control group was taken from general population, paired by age and gender. QoL was analyzed using the SF-36 and the PHPQoL questionnaires. The Beck-II and Pittsburg questionnaires were used to assess depression and sleep quality. Socio-personal and clinical variables were analyzed. Statistical analysis on SPSS software v.28 used the Student t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's rank correlation, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman's rank correlation. A multiple linear regression model of the QoL was constructed.

RESULTS

Sixty-five patients with PHPT were analyzed. A greater negative effect on QoL, mood and sleep quality were observed in patients with PHPT than in controls (P<0.05), with a good correlation between the various questionnaires. Several socio-personal variables had an effect on QoL and mood (P<0.05). QoL in patients with PHPT was affected by educational level, having offspring, and psychological symptoms (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with PHPT had poorer QoL and greater neurocognitive disorder than the general population. Socio-personal profile should be taken into account in the clinical assessment of these patients, together with psychological symptoms.

Quality of Life in Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Quality of life is impaired in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), regardless of the severity of the disease. Clinical studies have employed different instruments, including standardized and disease-specific questionnaires, and including patients with different phenotypes of PHPT. Neuropsychiatric symptoms and decline in cognitive status are common in PHPT. Patients may complain of these issues or they can be ascertained by questionnaires; they include depression, anxiety, impaired vitality, social and emotional functions, sleep disturbances, and altered mental function. Randomized controlled trials on the effects of surgical versus non-surgical treatments have collectively shown improvement in quality of life after parathyroidectomy, but results have been heterogeneous.

Radiofrequency ablation for benign symptomatic thyroid nodules in the Netherlands: successful introduction of a minimally-invasive treatment option improving quality of life

PURPOSE

The aim is to report the results of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with symptomatic benign thyroid nodules (SBTN) within our regional Thyroid Network and to evaluate their health-related and thyroid-related quality of life (QoL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eligibility criteria for RFA were nodule size between 2.0 cm and 5.0 cm; solid component >20%; benign cytology on two separate cytological assessments and unequivocal symptoms related to mechanical compression. The primary end point of this study was volume reduction at 1 year post ablation. Secondary outcomes were health-related and thyroid related QoL measured by the SF-36 and ThyPRO-39 questionnaire as well as complication rates.

RESULTS

A total of 72 SBTN in 67 patients were included. The median age was 50.0 [IQR: 41.0 - 56.0] years and 91.0% were women. Median volume reduction at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years were 51.0%, 63.9%, 65.2%, 81.3% and 90.3% respectively. Patients showed significant improvement on the SF-36 physical component scale and the ThyPRO-39 overall QoL-impact scale. An absolute improvement was seen within the ThyPRO-39 goiter and cosmetic complaints. The overall complication rate was 9.0%, of which 4.5% were considered major.

CONCLUSION

RFA is an effective treatment option for SBTN with significant volume reduction and improvement in health-related and thyroid-related QoL.

An Institutional experience with primary hyperparathyroidism in the elderly over two decades

BACKGROUND

Parathyroidectomy is the only curative treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) and is associated with low morbidity. This study examined the severity of disease and outcomes of parathyroidectomy based on patient age at a high-volume institution.

METHODS

This is a retrospective review of sporadic pHPT patients who underwent initial parathyroidectomy. To study disease severity over time, patients were divided into timeframes: 1999-2007, 2007-2012, and 2013-2018. Elderly was defined as age ≥75 years.

RESULTS

Over time, the elderly had progressively lower preoperative calcium (11.0, 10.7, 10.7; p = 0.05) and PTH (150.4, 111.9, 107.9; p < 0.001) levels. By age, there was no difference in preoperative calcium (10.8, 10.9; p = 0.91) or in rates of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, hypoparathyroidism, or persistent/recurrent pHPT.

CONCLUSIONS

Over the 3 time periods of the study, elderly patients had progressively lower calcium and PTH levels. There was no difference in endocrine-specific complications between the age groups, suggesting that parathyroidectomy in the elderly is safe and therefore, age-associated morbidity should not preclude parathyroidectomy.

The effect of parathyroidectomy on quality of life in primary hyperparathyroidism: evaluation with using sf-36 and phpqol questionnaire

Quality of life (QoL) typically improves with a parathyroidectomy (PTx) in cases of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), but the effect of surgery on QoL is not yet fully understood. This study evaluated the impact of PTx on health-related QoL (HRQoL). Patients who underwent PTx for PHPT between January 2016 and December 2019 were asked to complete the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Primary Hyperparathyroidism Quality of Life (PHPQoL) questionnaire before surgery and 1 year later. A 5-point Likert scale was used: negative responses received a lower score and positive responses scored high. Forty-one of 50 patients completed the questionnaires before and 12 months after the surgery. The median patient age was 64 years (min-max: 32-83 years). In the study group, 33 were female, and 8 were male. The SF-36 results indicated that significant improvements had been observed in all 8 domains a year after surgery, particularly in the physical functioning and role, general health, energy, and mental health scales. The PHPQoL scores also improved significantly after PTx (p < 0.05). The improvement in the physical and mental health components was 50% and 76%, respectively. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that PTx for PHPT improved QoL.

Quality of Life in Patients With Asymptomatic Primary Hyperparathyroidism After Parathyroidectomy: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVE

Impaired quality of life (QoL) is considered as a nonclassical manifestation of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). This study aimed to detect and compare changes in the QoL of patients with asymptomatic PHPT who had successful curative parathyroidectomy (PTX) 3 months and 3 years after the procedure.

METHODS

Patients with diagnosed PHPT were eligible for the study. There were 2 groups: the PTX group, with patients who underwent PTX, and the non-PTX group, with patients who were treated conservatively. QoL was assessed using Pasieka's Parathyroid Assessment of Symptoms Questionnaire (PAS-Q) at baseline, 3 months, and 3 years.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight patients were included in the study: 18 in the PTX group and 20 in the non-PTX group. In the PTX group, the mean PAS-Q total score before PTX was 518, which was reduced significantly at the 3-month (P = .003) and 3-year assessments (P = .001). However, in the non-PTX group, the mean PAS-Q total score was 326 at baseline and increased continuously for 3 years (P = .019). At the 3-year evaluation, the mean total score was significantly higher compared to that of the PTX group (P = .021). Finally, there was a positive correlation between total serum calcium and PAS-Q score in the non-PTX group (r = 0.524, P = .018).

CONCLUSION

QoL of patients with PHPT improved significantly compared to that in conservative surveillance as early as 3 months after successful, curative PTX, and remained improved for 3 years. This finding strengthens, even more, the hypothesis that PTX contributes to better QoL, suggesting that the derangement of QoL may be considered as an individual indication for surgery.

Recent advances in the understanding and management of primary hyperparathyroidism

Primary hyperparathyroidism is a hormonal disorder whose prevalence is approximately 1–2% in the United States of America. The disease has become more recognizable to clinicians in an earlier phase and, at present, patients can be diagnosed with “classic”, “normocalcemic”, “normohormonal”, or “mild, asymptomatic” primary hyperparathyroidism. Surgery, with a focused parathyroidectomy when possible, or a four-gland exploration, is the only way to cure the disease. Cure is determined by use of intra-operative parathyroid hormone monitoring with long-term cure rates ranging from 90–95%. Newer adjuncts to surgery include CT or PET imaging and near-infrared immunofluorescence. This article highlights updates in parathyroid disease and advances in parathyroid surgery; it does not provide a comprehensive summary of the disease process or a review of surgical indications, which can be found in the AAES guidelines or NIH Symposium on primary hyperparathyroidism.

[Diagnostics and treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism]

Primary hyperparathyroidism is a disease that occurs more frequently than generally thought and is often overlooked. Classical symptoms are bone pain and osteoporosis, renal calculi and peptic ulcers. Many patients are asymptomatic or have unspecific complaints. It is easy to establish the biochemical diagnosis based on calcium and parathormone (PTH) levels and 24-h urine calcium excretion. The most sensitive localization procedures for parathyroid adenomas are sonography and Tc-99^m-MIBI scintigraphy. The indication for surgery is undisputed in symptomatic patients; however, there is controversy concerning patients without classical symptoms. Operative therapy is highly successful. Focused operative procedures are currently available besides the traditional 4‑gland exploration. When focused techniques are used, the operative success should be confirmed by intraoperative determination of the parathormone level.

Health-related quality of life improves 1 year after parathyroidectomy in primary hyperparathyroidism: A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Impaired quality of life (QoL) in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is commonly present. Patients may complain about nonspecific neurocognitive symptoms which can be difficult to quantify. Two different disease-specific questionnaires have been developed, that is, the parathyroid assessment of symptoms score (PAS) and the primary hyperparathyroidism quality of life (PHPQoL). Using these two questionnaires, we assessed relationship between QoL and biochemical indices in PHPT and effects of parathyroidectomy (PTX).

DESIGN

A prospective cohort study.

METHODS

Patients with PHPT diagnosed from 2015 to 2017 were asked to answer the questionnaires before and 12 months after PTX. Biochemistry was obtained on both occasions.

RESULTS

A total of 104 PHPT patients answered PAS and PHPQoL questionnaires at baseline, with a median age of 64 years (73% females). PHPQoL score correlated inversely with ionized calcium and PTH at baseline (P ˂ 0.04). Total PAS and PHPQoL score did not differ between those with and without osteoporosis, renal calcifications and impaired renal function. Based on levels of ionized calcium, PHPQoL differed significantly between patients with mild- and moderate-severe hypercalcemia (P = 0.01). Fifty-three patients answered PAS and PHPQoL 12 months after PTX showing an improved QoL at follow-up (P_all  ˂ 0.02). Stratifying patients into groups based on levels of ionized calcium showed a significantly improved PHPQoL score in patients with mild (˂1.45 mmol/L) as well as moderate-severe hypercalcemia (≥1.45 mmol/L) at follow-up (P_all  ˂ 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Quality of life improved 12 months after PTX in PHPT patients. Impaired QoL seems to be associated with the degree of hypercalcemia rather than organ manifestations attributable to PHPT.