Clinical burden and healthcare resource utilization among patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism, overall and by adequately vs not adequately controlled disease: a multi-country chart review

Cost-Effectiveness of Parathyroid Cryopreservation and Autotransplantation

Importance

Delayed autotransplantation of cryopreserved parathyroid tissue (DACP) is the only surgical treatment for permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Studies suggest that only a small minority of cryopreserved samples are ultimately autotransplanted with highly variable outcomes. For these reasons, many have questioned the economic utility of the process, although, to the authors' knowledge, this has never been formally studied.

Objective

To report the clinical outcomes of parathyroid cryopreservation and DACP at a large academic institution and to determine the cost-effectiveness of this treatment.

Design, Setting, and Participants

An institutional review board-approved, retrospective review of patients at a single institution who underwent DACP over a 17-year period was conducted with a median follow-up of 48.2 months. A forward-looking cost-utility analysis was then performed to determine the economic utility of cryopreservation/DACP vs usual care (monitoring and supplementation). Patients who had parathyroid tissue in cryopreserved storage between August 2005 to September 2022 at a single-center, academic, quaternary care center were identified.

Exposure

Parathyroid cryopreservation and DACP.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Graft functionality, clinical outcomes, and cost utility using a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100 000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY).

Results

A total of 591 patients underwent cryopreservation. Of these, 10 patients (1.7%; mean [SD] age, 45.6 [17.9] years; 6 male [60%]) underwent DACP. A minority of autografts (2 [20%]) were subsequently fully functional, one-half (5 [50%]) were partially functional, and 3 (30%) were not functional. The cost-utility model estimated that at a large academic center over 10 years, the additional cost of 591 patients undergoing cryopreservation and 10 patients undergoing autotransplantation would be $618 791.64 (2022 dollars) and would add 8.75 QALYs, resulting in a cost per marginal QALY of $70 719.04, which is less than the common willingness-to-pay threshold of $100 000/QALY.

Conclusions and Relevance

The reimplantation rate of cryopreserved tissue was low (<2%), but when implanted, autografts were at least partially functional 70% of the time. In the first-ever, to the authors' knowledge, formal cost analysis for this treatment, results of the current model suggest that cryopreservation and autotransplantation were cost-effective compared with the usual care for hypoparathyroidism at a large, academic institution. It is recommended that each surgical center consider whether the economic and logistical commitments necessary for cryopreservation are worthwhile for their individual needs.

A delicate balance: the challenges of hypoparathyroidism

A 38-yr-old woman with chronic non-surgical hypoparathyroidism, managed elsewhere, presented to our practice with symptomatic hypocalcemia. At the age of 17, she began to suffer from muscle cramps, paresthesia, and ongoing diffuse pain. It took years before she was correctly diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism. Her symptoms were severe enough that she required emergency room visits several times a year. After she was properly diagnosed and started on calcium and calcitriol therapy, she continued to experience frequent episodes of severe hypocalcemia. She saw multiple healthcare providers who each introduced a new regimen. In addition, poor communication led to her discontinuing her medications altogether. As a result, her calcium levels remained consistently low, and she lost confidence in her prospect for better health. At the time of her visit to our clinic, she had discontinued calcitriol, was taking a large amount of oral calcium daily all at once, and had hypocalcemia. We addressed her concerns, and the challenges she faces with adherence to her medication regimen. We provided her with detailed information about the disease and the reasoning behind her treatment plan. Treatment was initiated with calcium carbonate 600 mg 3 times daily and calcitriol 0.5 mcg once daily. One week after treatment initiation, her test results showed improvement in her albumin-adjusted calcium, phosphorus, and 24-h urine calcium which were all within target range.

Economic burden of patients with post-surgical chronic and transient hypoparathyroidism in the United States examined using insurance claims data

BACKGROUND

Hypoparathyroidism (HP) is a rare endocrine disease commonly caused by the removal or damage of parathyroid glands during surgery and resulting in transient (tHP) or chronic (cHP) disease. cHP is associated with multiple complications and comorbid conditions; however, the economic burden has not been well characterized. The objective of this study was to evaluate the healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs associated with post-surgical cHP, using tHP as a reference.

METHODS

This analysis of a US claims database included patients with both an insurance claim for HP and thyroid/neck surgery between October 2014 and December 2019. cHP was defined as an HP claim ≥ 6 months following surgery and tHP was defined as only one HP claim < 6 months following surgery. The cHP index date was the first HP diagnosis claim following their qualifying surgery claim, whereas the tHP index date was the last HP diagnosis claim following the qualifying surgery claim. Patients were continuously enrolled at least 1 year pre- and post-index. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, all-cause HCRU, and costs were descriptively analyzed. Total all-cause costs were calculated as the sum of payments for hospitalizations, emergency department, office/clinic visits, and pharmacy.

RESULTS

A total of 1,406 cHP and 773 tHP patients met inclusion criteria. The average age (52.1 years cHP, 53.5 years tHP) and representation of females (83.2% cHP, 81.2% tHP) were similar for both groups. Neck dissection surgery was more prevalent in cHP patients (23.6%) than tHP patients (5.3%). During the 1-2 year follow-up period, cHP patients had a higher prevalence of inpatient admissions (17.4%), and emergency visits (26.0%) than the reference group -tHP patients (14.4% and 21.4% respectively). Among those with a hospitalization, the average number of hospitalizations was 1.5-fold higher for cHP patients. cHP patients also saw more specialists, including endocrinologists (28.7% cHP, 15.8% tHP), cardiologists (16.7% cHP, 9.7% tHP), and nephrologists (4.6% cHP, 3.3% tHP).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the increased healthcare burden of cHP on the healthcare system in contrast to patients with tHP. Effective treatment options are needed to minimize the additional resources utilized by patients whose HP becomes chronic.

Impairments in quality of life and predictors of symptom burden in patients with hypoparathyroidism: results from a population-based survey

PURPOSE

To investigate the quality of life (QoL) in patients with hypoparathyroidism (hypoPT) compared to the general population and to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors that are associated with symptom burden.

METHODS

Patients with a diagnosis of hypoPT participated in an online survey. Information regarding the survey was distributed by treating physicians or a self-help organization. Quality of life was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and symptom burden using the Hypoparathyroid Patient Questionnaire (HPQ28). Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to compare QoL of hypoPT patients with the general population (adjusted for age, sex, education)and to identify factors associated with symptom burden.

RESULTS

Altogether, 264 hypoPT patients provided information on QoL and symptom burden. HypoPT was associated with worse cognitive (β = -15.9; p < 0.01) and emotional functioning (β = -12.3; p = 0.04) compared to the general population. The highest symptom burden in hypoPT patients was observed for the domains loss of vitality (mean: 61.4; SD: 21.9), pain and cramps (mean: 43.7; SD: 26.5), and numbness and tingling sensations (mean: 38.9; SD: 30.0). Female gender was associated with a higher symptom burden across all nine domains of the HPQ28, while longer disease duration was associated with a lower symptom burden in neurovegetative symptoms, loss of vitality, depression and anxiety, and depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

HypoPT patients have impaired QoL compared to the general population. Being female is strongly associated with high symptom burden.

Hypoparathyroidism - management, information needs, and impact on daily living from the patients' perspective: results from a population-based survey

PURPOSE

Hypoparathyriodism (hypoPT) is a rare endocrine disorder. It is not known how hypoPT is managed in Germany or whether patients have unmet information needs or impairments in their daily living.

METHODS

HypoPT patients at a minimum of 6 months' post-diagnosis were invited to participate in an online survey through their treating physician or through patient organizations. An extensive questionnaire, which was developed and pilot-tested with hypoPT patients, was administered.

RESULTS

A total of 264 patients with a mean age of 54.5 years (SD: 13.3), 85.2% female and 92% with postsurgical hypoPT, participated in the study. In total, 74% of the patients reported regular monitoring of serum calcium at least every 6 months, with lower control frequencies for phosphate (47%), magnesium (36%), creatinine (54%), and parathyroid hormone (50%), and 24-h urine calcium excretion (36%) on a yearly basis. Information on symptoms of hypo- and hypercalcemia was available in 72 and 45% of the patients. Information needs were related to the disease and its treatment as well as to nutrition, physical activities/sports, and support opportunities. Statistically significant differences for all information needs in association with symptom burden were observed. Hospitalization for hypocalcemia was reported by 32%, nutritional impairments (38%) or impact on work ability (52%) was available among patients with hypoPT.

CONCLUSION

HypoPT patients experience impairments in daily living and report unmet information needs. Patient and physician education regarding hypoPT is one of the key concepts for improving the management of patients with hypoPT.

Hypoparathyroidism-related health care utilization and expenditure during the first postoperative year after total thyroidectomy for cancer: a comprehensive national cohort study

Objectives

Hypoparathyroidism is the most common complication of total thyroidectomy for cancer, and requires calcium and/or vitamin D supplementation for an unpredictable period of time. The additional cost associated with this complication has not hitherto been assessed. The aim of this study was to assess the economic burden of postoperative hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy for cancer in France.

Methods

Based on the French national cancer cohort, which extracts data from the French National Health Data System (SNDS), all adult patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy for cancer in France between 2011 and 2015 were identified, and their healthcare resource use during the first postoperative year was compared according to whether they were treated postoperatively with calcium and/or vitamin D or not. Univariate and multivariate cost analyses were performed with the non-parametric Wilcoxon test and generalized linear model (gamma distribution and log link), respectively.

Results

Among the 31,175 patients analyzed (75% female, median age: 52y), 13,247 (42%) started calcium and/or vitamin D supplementation within the first postoperative month, and 2,855 patients (9.1%) were still treated at 1 year. Over the first postoperative year, mean overall and specific health expenditures were significantly higher for treated patients than for untreated patients: €7,233 vs €6,934 per patient (p<0.0001) and €478.6 vs €332.7 per patient (p<0.0001), respectively. After adjusting for age, gender, Charlson Comorbidity index, ecological deprivation index, types of thyroid resection, lymph node dissection and complications, year and region, the incremental cost of overall health care utilization was €142 (p<0.004).

Conclusion

Our study found a significant additional cost in respect of health expenditures for patients who had hypoparathyroidism after thyroidectomy for cancer, over the first postoperative year. Five-year follow-up is planned to assess the impact of more severe long-term complications on costs.

The risk of chronic kidney disease development in adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1-84): A retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over a period of up to 5 years in adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-84) (rhPTH[1-84]) compared with a historical control cohort of patients not treated with rhPTH(1-84).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study of patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1-84) derived from the REPLACE (NCT00732615), RELAY (NCT01268098), RACE (NCT01297309) and HEXT (NCT01199614, and its continuation study NCT02910466) clinical trials and a historical control cohort who did not receive PTH selected from an electronic medical record database.

PATIENTS

One hundred and eighteen patients treated with rhPTH(1-84) and 497 patient controls.

MEASUREMENTS

Incident CKD was defined as ≥2 eGFR measurements <60 ml/min/1.73 m² ≥3 months apart during the study and a sustained eGFR decline of ≥30% from baseline.

RESULTS

Over the 5-year period, Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that rhPTH(1-84)-treated patients had a significantly lower risk of developing CKD (log-rank p = .002) and a lower risk for a sustained eGFR decline ≥30% from baseline (log-rank p < .001) compared with patients in the control cohort. In adjusted analyses, patients in the rhPTH(1-84)-treated cohort had a 53% lower risk of developing CKD (hazard ratio [HR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25-0.87) and a 65% lower risk for sustained eGFR decline ≥30% from baseline (HR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.13-0.89) compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1-84) in long-term clinical trials had a significantly lower risk of developing CKD compared with patients in a historical control cohort not treated with rhPTH(1-84).

Recent Trends in Hypoparathyroidism-Related Inpatient and Emergency Department Admissions and Costs in the United States

Hypoparathyroidism (HypoPT) is a rare disease associated with high morbidity. Its economic impact is not well understood. This retrospective, cross-sectional study used data from the United States-based National Inpatient Sample and the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample from 2010 to 2018 to quantify overall trends in number, cost, charges, and length of stay (LOS) for inpatient hospitalizations and number and charges for emergency department (ED) visits for HypoPT-related and for non-HypoPT-related causes. Additionally, the study estimated the marginal effect of HypoPT on total inpatient hospitalization costs and LOS as well as ED visit charges. Over the observed period, a mean of 56.8-66.6 HypoPT-related hospitalizations and 14.6-19.5 HypoPT-related ED visits were recorded per 100 000 visits per year. Over this period, the rate of HypoPT-related inpatient hospitalizations and ED visits increased by 13.5% and 33.6%, respectively. The mean LOS for HypoPT-related hospitalizations was consistently higher than for non-HypoPT-related causes. Total annual HypoPT-related inpatient hospitalization costs increased by 33.6%, and ED visit charges increased by 96.3%. During the same period, the annual costs for non-HypoPT-related hospitalizations and charges for ED visits increased by 5.2% and 80.3%, respectively. In all years, HypoPT-related hospital encounters resulted in higher charges and costs per individual visit than non-HypoPT-related encounters. The marginal effect of HypoPT on inpatient hospitalization costs and LOS, and on ED charges, increased over the period of observation. This study demonstrated that HypoPT was associated with substantial and increasing healthcare utilization in the United States between 2010 and 2018.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hypoparathyroidism Following Total Thyroidectomy in Taif City

Background Postoperative hypoparathyroidism has been investigated in health records and surgical cohorts, but the results have been highly variable and imprecise. It is not clear how often endocrinologists encounter this hormone deficit in clinical practice. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism and the factors associated with it in a group of post-thyroidectomy patients followed at three tertiary care institutions in Taif city. Materials and Methods A retrospective cohort analysis was done to examine patients who had a total thyroidectomy in the city of Taif between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019. Patients were eligible for the study if they received total thyroidectomy, were above the age of 18 years, had surgical and pathological data available, and had been monitored in the same institution for at least a year after their thyroidectomy. Patients who did not return for follow-up care following surgery were excluded from the study. Results The incidence of hypoparathyroidism was 10.3%, and females had a higher prevalence (12.1%) than males (3.2%). In patients with two and three parathyroid glands, hypoparathyroidism was found to be more prevalent (33.3% and 25.5%) in permanent histological sections. There was no single independent risk factor for hypoparathyroidism according to a logistic regression model. Conclusion The incidence rate of hypoparathyroidism following total thyroidectomy was about 10.3%. There were no independent risk factors identified for hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy. Permanent hypoparathyroidism severely affects the quality of life, and research should be done to prevent its incidence after thyroidectomy.

Complications, Symptoms, Presurgical Predictors in Patients With Chronic Hypoparathyroidism: A Systematic Review

The complications and symptoms of hypoparathyroidism remain incompletely defined. Measuring serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium levels early after total thyroidectomy may predict the development of chronic hypoparathyroidism. The study aimed (i) to identify symptoms and complications associated with chronic hypoparathyroidism and determine the prevalence of those symptoms and complications (Part I), and (ii) to examine the utility of early postoperative measurements of PTH and calcium in predicting chronic hypoparathyroidism (Part II). We searched Medline, Medline In-Process, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL to identify complications and symptoms associated with chronic hypoparathyroidism. We used two predefined criteria (at least three studies reported the complication and symptom and had statistically significantly greater pooled relative estimates). To estimate prevalence, we used the median and interquartile range (IQR) of the studies reporting complications and symptoms. For testing the predictive values of early postoperative measurements of PTH and calcium, we used a bivariate model to perform diagnostic test meta-analysis. In Part I, the 93 eligible studies enrolled a total of 18,973 patients and reported on 170 complications and symptoms. We identified nine most common complications or symptoms probably associated with chronic hypoparathyroidism. The complications or symptoms and the prevalence are as follows: nephrocalcinosis/nephrolithiasis (median prevalence among all studies 15%), renal insufficiency (12%), cataract (17%), seizures (11%), arrhythmia (7%), ischemic heart disease (7%), depression (9%), infection (11%), and all-cause mortality (6%). In Part II, 18 studies with 4325 patients proved eligible. For PTH measurement, regarding the posttest probability, PTH values above 10 pg/mL 12-24 hours postsurgery virtually exclude chronic hypoparathyroidism irrespective of pretest probability (100%). When PTH values are below 10 pg/mL, posttest probabilities range from 3% to 64%. Nine complications and symptoms are probably associated with chronic hypoparathyroidism. A PTH value above a threshold of 10 pg/mL 12-24 hours after total thyroidectomy is a strong predictor that the patients will not develop chronic hypoparathyroidism. Patients with PTH values below the threshold need careful monitoring as some will develop chronic hypoparathyroidism. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Etiology and Pathophysiology of Hypoparathyroidism: A Narrative Review

The approach utilized a systematic review of the medical literature executed with specifically designed criteria that focused on the etiologies and pathogenesis of hypoparathyroidism. Enhanced attention by endocrine surgeons to new knowledge about parathyroid gland viability are reviewed along with the role of intraoperative parathyroid hormone (ioPTH) monitoring during and after neck surgery. Nonsurgical etiologies account for a significant proportion of cases of hypoparathyroidism (~25%), and among them, genetic etiologies are key. Given the pervasive nature of PTH deficiency across multiple organ systems, a detailed review of the skeletal, renal, neuromuscular, and ocular complications is provided. The burden of illness on affected patients and their caregivers contributes to reduced quality of life and social costs for this chronic endocrinopathy. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Epidemiology and Financial Burden of Adult Chronic Hypoparathyroidism

Chronic hypoparathyroidism is characterized by low serum calcium, increased serum phosphorus, and inappropriately low or decreased serum parathyroid hormone. This rare disorder is associated with a variety of complications. The prevalence, incidence, mortality, financial burden, and epidemiology of complications of this disorder are not well understood. This narrative review summarizes current information on the epidemiology and complications of chronic hypoparathyroidism. The reported prevalence of chronic hypoparathyroidism ranges from 6.4-37/100,000, and the incidence is reported to be 0.8-2.3/100,000/year. Mortality is not increased in studies from Denmark or South Korea but was increased in studies from Scotland and Sweden. The financial burden of this disorder is substantial because of increased health care resource utilization in two studies but not well quantitated. Recognized complications include hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis, kidney stones, and chronic kidney disease; low bone turnover and possibly upper extremity fractures; cardiac and vascular calcifications; basal ganglia calcifications, cataracts, infections, neuropsychiatric complications, and difficulties with pregnancy. This review concludes that chronic hypoparathyroidism is a rare disorder associated with significant morbidity that may not increase overall mortality but is associated with a substantial financial burden. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Evaluation and Management of Hypoparathyroidism Summary Statement and Guidelines from the Second International Workshop

This clinical practice guideline addresses the prevention, diagnosis, and management of hypoparathyroidism (HypoPT) and provides evidence-based recommendations. The HypoPT task forces included four teams with a total of 50 international experts including representatives from the sponsoring societies. A methodologist (GG) and his team supported the taskforces and conducted the systematic reviews. A formal process following the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology and the systematic reviews provided the structure for seven of the guideline recommendations. The task force used a less structured approach based on narrative reviews for 20 non-GRADEd recommendations. Clinicians may consider postsurgical HypoPT permanent if it persists for >12 months after surgery. To predict which patients will not develop permanent postsurgical HypoPT, we recommend evaluating serum PTH within 12 to 24 hours post total thyroidectomy (strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence). PTH > 10 pg/mL (1.05 pmol/L) virtually excludes long-term HypoPT. In individuals with nonsurgical HypoPT, genetic testing may be helpful in the presence of a positive family history of nonsurgical HypoPT, in the presence of syndromic features, or in individuals younger than 40 years. HypoPT can be associated with complications, including nephrocalcinosis, nephrolithiasis, renal insufficiency, cataracts, seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, ischemic heart disease, depression, and an increased risk of infection. Minimizing complications of HypoPT requires careful evaluation and close monitoring of laboratory indices. In patients with chronic HypoPT, the panel suggests conventional therapy with calcium and active vitamin D metabolites as first-line therapy (weak recommendation, low-quality evidence). When conventional therapy is deemed unsatisfactory, the panel considers the use of PTH. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Lower Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Adult Patients with Chronic Hypoparathyroidism Treated with rhPTH(1-84): A Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction

Patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This study evaluated the risk of developing cardiovascular conditions over a period of 5 years in adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1–84), rhPTH(1–84), compared with a historical control cohort of patients not treated with rhPTH(1–84).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study comprised patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1–84) in the REPLACE (NCT00732615), RELAY (NCT01268098), and RACE (NCT01297309) clinical trials, and controls selected from the IBM^® Explorys electronic medical record database (January 2007–August 2019) who did not receive parathyroid hormone but who had enrollment criteria similar to those for the clinical trials. Cardiovascular outcomes were the first diagnosis of cerebrovascular, coronary artery, peripheral vascular disease, or heart failure during the study period.

Results

We evaluated 113 adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1–84) and 618 control patients who did not receive rhPTH(1–84). Over the 5-year follow-up period, 3.5% of patients (n = 4) in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort had a cardiovascular event compared with 16.3% (n = 101) in the control cohort. Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that patients in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort had lower risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event compared with patients in the control cohort (P = 0.005). Multivariable analyses adjusted for baseline variables showed that patients in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort had 75% lower risk for a cardiovascular event compared with patients in the control cohort (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.25 [95% CI 0.08–0.81]; P = 0.020).

Conclusion

Long-term treatment with rhPTH(1–84) was associated with a lower risk of incident cardiovascular conditions compared with conventional therapy in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism. Previous studies demonstrated that mineral homeostasis was maintained with lower use of calcium and active vitamin D when rhPTH(1–84) was added to conventional therapy. Future studies are needed to understand whether improved regulation of mineral homeostasis conferred by rhPTH(1–84) may provide long-term cardiovascular benefits to patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12325-022-02198-y.

Five-Year Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in Adults with Chronic Hypoparathyroidism Treated with rhPTH(1-84): A Retrospective Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Chronic hypoparathyroidism is associated with higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease compared with the general population. This study evaluated changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over a 5-year period in adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with recombinant parathyroid hormone (1-84), rhPTH(1-84), compared with a historical control cohort of patients who did not receive rhPTH(1-84).

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1-84) in the REPLACE (NCT00732615), RELAY (NCT01268098), RACE (NCT01297309), and HEXT (NCT01199614 and continuation study NCT02910466) clinical trials. A historical control cohort who did not receive parathyroid hormone but who had enrollment criteria similar to those for the clinical trials was selected from the IBM® Explorys electronic medical record database (January 2007-August 2019). Outcomes of interest were the annual rate of change in eGFR from baseline (i.e., eGFR slope) and the predicted eGFR change from baseline at years 1 through 5.

RESULTS

The study comprised 72 adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1-84) and 176 control patients who did not receive rhPTH(1-84). Over 5 years, eGFR remained stable in the rhPTH(1-84) cohort, whereas eGFR declined at a rate of 1.67 mL/min/1.73 m² per year in the control cohort (P < 0.001 for eGFR slope in the control cohort). At 5 years, predicted eGFR in the rhPTH(1-84) cohort increased from baseline by 1.21 mL/min/1.73 m², whereas eGFR in the control cohort declined by 10.36 mL/min/1.73 m², after adjusting for baseline variables. The difference in eGFR slopes between the cohorts over 5 years was 1.37 mL/min/1.73 m² per year (95% CI 0.62-2.13; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Long-term treatment with rhPTH(1-84) was associated with stable eGFR compared with eGFR decline in the controls not treated with rhPTH(1-84). Preservation of renal function conferred by rhPTH(1-84) may benefit patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism by reducing risk of long-term renal complications.

The PARADIGHM (physicians advancing disease knowledge in hypoparathyroidism) registry for patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism: study protocol and interim baseline patient characteristics

BACKGROUND

The PARADIGHM registry of adult and pediatric patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism evaluates the long-term safety and effectiveness of treatment with recombinant human parathyroid hormone, rhPTH(1-84), and describes the clinical disease course under conditions of routine clinical practice. In this first report, we detail the registry protocol and describe the baseline characteristics of two adult patient cohorts from an interim database analysis. One cohort after study entry were prescribed rhPTH(1-84), and the other cohort received conventional therapy of calcium and active vitamin D.

METHODS

An observational study of patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism in North America and Europe, collecting data for ≥10 years per patient. Main outcome measures were baseline patient demographics, clinical characteristics, medications, and disease outcome variables of symptoms, biochemical parameters, and health assessments. Baseline is the enrollment assessment for all variables except biochemical measurements in patients treated with rhPTH(1-84); those measurements were the most recent value before the first rhPTH(1-84) dose. Exclusion criteria applied to the analysis of specified outcomes included pediatric patients, patients who initiated rhPTH(1-84) prior to enrollment, and those who received rhPTH(1-34). Clinically implausible biochemical outlier data were excluded.

RESULTS

As of 30 June 2019, data of 737 patients were analyzed from 64 centers; 587 (80%) were women, mean ± SD age 49.1±16.45 years. At enrollment, symptoms reported for patients later prescribed rhPTH(1-84) (n=60) and those who received conventional therapy (n=571), respectively, included fatigue (51.7%, 40.1%), paresthesia (51.7%, 29.6%), muscle twitching (48.3%, 21.9%), and muscle cramping (41.7%, 33.8%). Mean serum total calcium, serum phosphate, creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate were similar between cohorts. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) 36-item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire scores for those later prescribed rhPTH(1-84) were generally lower than those for patients in the conventional therapy cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

At enrollment, based on symptoms and HRQoL, a greater percentage of patients subsequently prescribed rhPTH(1-84) appeared to have an increased burden of disease than those who received conventional therapy despite having normal biochemistry measurements. PARADIGHM will provide valuable real-world insights on the clinical course of hypoparathyroidism in patients treated with rhPTH(1-84) or conventional therapy in routine clinical practice.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

EUPAS16927, NCT01922440.

Hypoparathyroidism: Consequences, economic impact, and perspectives. A case series and systematic review

BACKGROUND

Postoperative hypoparathyroidism (PH) is the most common complication after total thyroidectomy. Incidence varies from 2% to 83%, depending on the definition.

OBJECTIVE

We performed a systematic review of the literature to determine the medico-economic effects of PH and update understanding of long-term consequences, morbidity, and quality of life related to hypoparathyroidism.

METHODS

We considered relevant articles published between 2000 and 2020 concerning long-term consequences of PH and quality of life. All studies concerning the medico-economic assessment of PH were included. We compared data from 2018 to results in the literature.

RESULTS

A proportion of 64/403 (16.8%) patients presented with transient PH during 2018, and 7/403 (1.7%) had permanent PH. Seven patients needed supplementation with alfacalcidol at 6-month follow-up. Factors predicting the need for alfacalcidol were age <45, thyroidectomy for goiter, and lymph node dissection. Additional therapy costs related to PH were €9781.10, and additional hospital costs were €230,400. We qualitatively synthesized 41 studies. Most were retrospective studies and only a few reported costs. No series assessed direct or indirect costs of postoperative PH.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, no previous studies reported the medico-economic impact of PH. Decreasing PH associated with fluorescence usage should be considered, particularly concerning cost-effectiveness.

Etiology and Diagnosis of Permanent Hypoparathyroidism after Total Thyroidectomy

Postoperative parathyroid failure is the commonest adverse effect of total thyroidectomy, which is a widely used surgical procedure to treat both benign and malignant thyroid disorders. The present review focuses on the scientific gap and lack of data regarding the time period elapsed between the immediate postoperative period, when hypocalcemia is usually detected by the surgeon, and permanent hypoparathyroidism often seen by an endocrinologist months or years later. Parathyroid failure after thyroidectomy results from a combination of trauma, devascularization, inadvertent resection, and/or autotransplantation, all resulting in an early drop of iPTH (intact parathyroid hormone) requiring replacement therapy with calcium and calcitriol. There is very little or no role for other factors such as vitamin D deficiency, calcitonin, or magnesium. Recovery of the parathyroid function is a dynamic process evolving over months and cannot be predicted on the basis of early serum calcium and iPTH measurements; it depends on the number of parathyroid glands remaining in situ (PGRIS)—not autotransplanted nor inadvertently excised—and on early administration of full-dose replacement therapy to avoid hypocalcemia during the first days/weeks after thyroidectomy.

Laboratory test ordering in inpatient hospitals: a systematic review on the effects and features of clinical decision support systems

Background

Studies have revealed inappropriate laboratory testing as a source of waste. This review aimed at evaluating the effects and features of CDSSs on physicians' appropriate laboratory test ordering in inpatient hospitals.

Method

Medline through PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Cochrane were queried without any time period restriction. Studies using CDSSs as an intervention to improve laboratory test ordering as the primary aim were included. The study populations in the included studies were laboratory tests, physicians ordering laboratory tests, or the patients for whom laboratory tests were ordered. The included papers were evaluated for their outcomes related to the effect of CDSSs which were categorized based on the outcomes related to tests, physician, and patients. The primary outcome measures were the number and cost of the ordered laboratory tests. The instrument from The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NIH) was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Moreover, we applied a checklist for assessing the quality and features of the CDSSs presented in the included studies. A narrative synthesis was used to describe and compare the designs and the results of included studies.

Result

Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted based on a quasi-experimental design. The results showed improvement in laboratory test-related outcomes (e.g. proportion and cost of tests) and also physician-related outcomes (e.g. guideline adherence and orders cancellation). Patient-related outcomes (e.g. length of stay and mortality rate) were not well investigated in the included studies. In addition, the evidence about applying CDSS as a decision aid for interpreting laboratory results was rare.

Conclusion

CDSSs increase appropriate test ordering in hospitals through eliminating redundant test orders and enhancing evidence-based practice. Appropriate testing and cost saving were both affected by the CDSSs. However, the evidence is limited about the effects of laboratory test CDSSs on patient-related outcomes.

Permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism: an analysis of prevalence and predictive factors for adequacy of control in a cohort of 260 patients

Background

Recent guidelines for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism emphasize the need for long-term disease control, avoiding symptoms and hypocalcaemia. Our aim has been to analyze the prevalence of poor disease control in a national cohort of patients with hypoparathyroidism, as well as to evaluate predictive variables of inadequate disease control.

Methods

From a nation-wide observational study including a cohort of 1792 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy, we selected 260 subjects [207 women and 53 men, aged (mean ± SD) 47.2±14.8 years] diagnosed with permanent hypoparathyroidism. In every patient demographic data and details on surgical procedure, histopathology, calcium (Ca) metabolism, and therapy with Ca and calcitriol were retrospectively collected. A patient was considered not adequately controlled (NAC) if presented symptoms of hypocalcemia or biochemical data showing low serum Ca levels or high urinary Ca excretion.

Results

Two hundred and twenty-one (85.0%) patients were adequately controlled (AC) and 39 (15.0%) were NAC. Comparison between AC and NAC patients did not show any significant difference in demographic, surgical, and pathological features. Rate of hospitalization during follow-up was significantly higher among NAC patients in comparison with AC patients (35.9% vs. 10.9%, P<0.001). Dose of oral Ca and calcitriol were also significantly higher in NAC subjects. In a subgroup of 129 patients with serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels available, we found that NAC patients exhibited significantly lower postoperative PTH concentrations than AC patients [median (interquartile range) 3 (1.9-7.8) vs. 6.9 (3.0-11) pg/mL; P=0.009].

Conclusions

In a nation-wide cohort of 260 subjects with definitive hypoparathyroidism, 15% of them had poor disease control. These patients required higher doses of oral Ca and calcitriol, had higher rate of hospitalization during follow-up and showed lower PTH concentrations in the postoperative period.