Acromegaly in remission: a view from the partner

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Psychology
• Quality of Life Research

Background:

• Acromegaly significantly impacts patients' quality of life (QoL) even after remission.
• Caregivers' well-being can also be affected by a patient's chronic illness.
• Understanding the patient-relative dyad's perception is crucial for comprehensive care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient and relative perceptions of acromegaly in remission.
• To assess QoL, anxiety, depression, and coping strategies in patients and their relatives.
• To evaluate body image and self-esteem from both patient and relative viewpoints.

Main Methods:

• Observational study involving 27 patients with acromegaly in remission and their relatives.
• Administration of validated questionnaires for QoL, anxiety, depression, and coping strategies.
• Assessment of patient body image and self-esteem using modified questionnaires from dyadic perspectives.

Main Results:

• Relatives demonstrated accurate estimation of patients' body image.
• Significant variations existed between patient and relative responses regarding self-esteem and body perception.
• Relatives reported unaffected QoL, with higher social domain scores compared to patients.

Conclusions:

• Relatives require enhanced education regarding acromegaly management and its sequelae.
• Addressing discrepancies in perception between patients and relatives is essential.
• Caregiver support and education can improve the overall management of chronic conditions like acromegaly.