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Beghini M, Resch FJ, Möslinger D, Konstantopoulou V, Karall D, Scholl-Bürgi S, Brunner-Krainz M, Plecko B, Spenger J, Kautzky-Willer A, Scherer T, Hufgard-Leitner M. Project "Backtoclinic I": An overview on the state of care of adult PKU patients in Austria. Mol Genet Metab 2021; 133:257-260. [PMID: 34083143 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High rates of lost to follow-up (LTFU) adult patients are a major concern in the long-term management of phenylketonuria (PKU). To address this issue, we designed the project "Backtoclinic" with the purpose of identifying LTFU adult PKU patients in Austria as a first step to reestablish appropriate treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Individuals born between 1966 and 1999 and diagnosed with PKU through the National Austrian Newborn Screening Program (NANSP) were identified using the NANSP's database. Follow-up data were collected in the Austrian metabolic centers (Medical University of Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck and Salzburg). Patients with no contact to any of these centers within the previous two years were classified as LTFU. Epidemiological characteristics of the whole study population as well as of LTFU- and currently in follow-up patients were analyzed. RESULTS Between 1966 and 1999, 281 individuals were diagnosed with PKU through the NANSP. Two patients died in their first year of life and were excluded from the analysis. Of the remaining 279 patients (mean age ± SD: 36.7 ± 9.1 y, 42.7% females), 177 (63.4%) are currently LTFU. The rate of LTFU patients is higher in men than in women (68.1% vs 57.5%), and markedly increases with age in both sexes. The gender gap is greatest in young adults (52.6% vs. 25.0% in the age range 20.0-24.9 y) and declines with age (94.4% vs. 80.0% in the age range > 45.0 y). CONCLUSIONS We found an alarming rate of 63.4% of LTFU adult PKU patients in Austria, and observed a gender gap in the PKU state of care. Our findings illustrate the urgent need for the metabolic community to identify LTFU adult PKU patients and to develop strategies to reestablish appropriate treatment for men and women with PKU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Beghini
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Felix J Resch
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Dorothea Möslinger
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringerguertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Vassiliki Konstantopoulou
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringerguertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Daniela Karall
- Division of Inherited Metabolic Disorders, Clinic of Pediatrics I, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Sabine Scholl-Bürgi
- Division of Inherited Metabolic Disorders, Clinic of Pediatrics I, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Michaela Brunner-Krainz
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 34/2, 8036 Graz, Austria.
| | - Barbara Plecko
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 34/2, 8036 Graz, Austria.
| | - Johannes Spenger
- University Children's Hospital, Salzburger Landeskliniken (SALK), Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Alexandra Kautzky-Willer
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Thomas Scherer
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Miriam Hufgard-Leitner
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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