Preferences for different treatment options among people living with acromegaly in the US

Acromegaly is a rare hormonal disorder that results in enlargement of the face, hands and feet. It is associated with comorbidities, increased mortality, reduced quality of life and economic burden. Adequate treatment is critical to alleviate symptoms; however, the treatment burden is substantial. To understand how different treatment aspects might ease the burden, this study investigated preferences for treatment options among people with acromegaly in the US, using a choice experiment (CE).

An online CE was conducted based on a similar study among the US general population. Respondents were recruited through Acromegaly Community in the US, and all eligible respondents were included. The survey assessed six treatment options that varied according to administration, frequency, storage, treatment setting, needle type and injection pain.

109 adults with acromegaly completed the survey between October and December 2022. On average, the population had lived with symptoms for 15 years, while the average number of years with the diagnosis was eight. Respondents preferred subcutaneous injections every fourth week and preferred them at home rather than at the hospital. Most respondents preferred subcutaneous injections right under the skin administered once every fourth week with a pen at home over oral capsules administered twice daily at home.

The results indicate that new treatment options administered as subcutaneous injections right under the skin once every fourth week at home have the potential to lower the treatment burden among people with acromegaly, emphasizing the importance of taking each person's preference into consideration when choosing treatment.