[Outpatient quality of care for permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism]

Postoperative hypoparathyreoidism can cause severe symptoms, relevant sequelae and far reaching impairments of quality of life. Socio-economic effects are considerable. Individual follow-up of patients at risk could improve quality of care. We analysed quality of care for patients with hypoparathyreoidism after thyreoidectomy at our centre of endocrine surgery (Kompetenzzentrum DGAV) and tried to identify potentials for improvement.

420 consecutive patients underwent thyreoidectomy (patients with hyperparathyreoidism excluded) between 08/2012 and 08/2014, follow-up 8-32 months. Group I (study group): 197 patients with calcium (Ca) in blood serum on postoperative day 1 < 2,1 mmol/l and/or parathyroide hormone (PTH) < 15 pg/ml. Group II (control group): 223 patients with Ca ≥ 2 mmol/l and PTH ≥ 15 pg/ml on postoperative day 1. Outcome parameters at follow-up: Ca-, PTH-level, symptoms, quality of life and quality of care by general practitionor in long-term outpatient care (questionnaire).

Participation rate at follow-up was 30,6 % (117/382). Rate of postopertive hypoparathyreoidism: 47 % temporary, 6 % permanent. Number of symptoms and perceived burden was identical in patients with hypoparathyreoidism compared to patients in the control group. Long-term outpatient postoperative care was performed in 96 % by general practitionors. No patient with a calcium level in blood serum ≤ 2,1 mmol/l was not on calcium and/or vitamin D medication at the time of follow-up. 33 % of patients with hypoparathyreoidism received insufficient calcium and/or vitamin D medication. 24 % of all 117 patients screened received calcium/or vitamin D medication despite normal blood levels and regular blood tests by general practitionors (rate 76 %) at the time of follow-up.

We found features of under-, as well as of over-treatment by general practitionors in patients with postoperative hypoparathyreoidism. From this we deduct target parameters for improvement of outpatient long-term care after thyreoidectomy: 1. Close follow-up, 2. Sufficient calcium and/or vitamin D medication in all patients with postoperative hypoparathyreoidism, 3. On-time termination of medication in patients with normal postoperative parathyroid hormone levels.