Depression in primary hyperparathyroidism: prevalence and benefit of surgery

Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) often report nonspecific symptoms including mood disturbances.

The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of depression in PHP and assess its response to parathyroidectomy.

A case-control study at a referral center in Rochester, MN, performed Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) assessments in observed (n = 81) and surgical (n = 88) PHP and benign nontoxic surgical thyroid disease (n = 85) at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery or the initial questionnaire in observed PHP. Baseline PHQ-9 scores and their response to surgery were evaluated.

The groups were similar in gender and depression history, but PHP patients were older. Baseline PHQ-9 scores were 1.71 points higher in PHP than controls after adjusting for age and gender (P = .004). Clinically significant PHQ-9 scores (≥10) were twice as common in PHP (31.4%) compared with thyroid subjects (15.3%). Parathyroidectomy resulted in significant and sustained reductions in PHQ-9 scores, which were greater than observed PHP at all time points (P < .001). PHP patients with clinically significant PHQ-9 scores dropped to 7.4% (P < .001) and 7.6% (P < .001) at 1 month and 1 yr after parathyroidectomy. There were greater declines in PHQ-9 scores after parathyroidectomy at 1, 3, and 6 months (P < .001) and 1 yr (P = .061) compared with thyroid surgery.

Depression is common in patients with PHP. Parathyroidectomy results in greater improvement in PHQ-9 scores compared with thyroid surgery or observation of PHP.