Evaluating the Impact of Acromegaly on Quality of Life
Eva C Coopmans1, Cornelie D Andela2, Kim M J A Claessen1
1Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands; Center for Endocrine Tumors Leiden (CETL), Center for Pituitary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZB Leiden, the Netherlands.
Abstract:
Acromegaly has a substantial negative impact on quality of life (QoL). This review aims to discuss the impact of acromegaly on QoL from the clinical perspective as well as from the patient perspective. Furthermore, it aims to evaluate the use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in acromegaly and how PROMs aid decision-making. The recommendations presented in this review are based on recent clinical evidence on the impact of acromegaly on QoL combined with the authors' own clinical experience treating patients with acromegaly. We recommend that a patient-centered approach should be considered in treatment decisions, integrating conventional biochemical outcomes, tumor control, comorbidities, treatment complications, and PROMs, including QoL measures. This more integrated approach seems effective in treating comorbidities and improving patient-reported outcomes and is critical, as many patients do not achieve biochemical or tumor control and comorbidities, impairment in QoL may not remit even when full biochemical control is achieved.
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