Clinical whole-exome sequencing results impact medical management

Clinical diagnostic whole-exome sequencing (WES) is a powerful tool for patients with undiagnosed genetic disorders. To demonstrate the clinical utility, we surveyed healthcare providers (HCP) about changes in medical management and treatment, diagnostic testing, reproductive planning, and use of educational services subsequent to WES testing.

For a period of 18 months, an 18-question survey was sent to HCPs attached to the WES reports. We analyzed the molecular diagnosis, patient clinical features, and the medical management changes reported in the returned surveys.

A total of 62 (2.2% of 2,876) surveys were returned, consisting of 37.1% patients with a positive or likely positive pathogenic alteration, 51.6% negative results, 9.7% uncertain findings, and 1 patient (1.6%) with a novel candidate finding. Overall, 100% of the HCPs of patients with positive or likely positive WES results (n = 23) and HCPs of patients with uncertain WES results (n = 6) responded positively to one of the 18 queries. Of note, 37.5% of the HCPs of patients with negative WES results (n = 32) responded positively to at least one query.

Overall, these data clearly demonstrate the clinical utility of WES by demonstrating the impact on medical management irrespective of the exome result.