Patient-based surgical outcome tool demonstrating alleviation of symptoms following parathyroidectomy in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism

World J Surg. 2002 Aug;26(8):942-9. doi: 10.1007/s00268-002-6623-y. Epub 2002 May 21.

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of parathyroidectomy on the preoperative symptoms of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (1 degrees HPT) using a surgical outcome tool designed specifically for HPT. The multicenter nature of this study allowed us to validate further this disease-specific outcome tool. 1 degrees HPT patients from Canada, the United States, and Australia filled out the questionnaire preoperatively and postoperatively on day 7 and at 3 and 12 months. The symptoms recorded by the patients were expressed as parathyroidectomy assessment of symptoms (PAS) scores: the higher the score, the more symptomatic is the patient. Quality of Life (QOL) and self-rated health uni-scales were included. Altogether, 203 patients with 1 degrees HPT were enrolled; 27 from center A, 54 from center B, and 122 from center C; 58 nontoxic thyroid patients were enrolled for comparison. The comparison group had no significant change in their PAS scores throughout the study (scores 184, 215, 156, 186). All three centers demonstrated a significant reduction in symptoms following surgery. The median preoperative PAS score from center B patients was 282. Following surgery, PAS scores decreased significantly: 136, 58, 0 (p <0.05). Center C patients had a median preoperative PAS score of 344, decreasing postoperatively to 228 (p <0.05) and continuing to decrease to 190, then 180. Center A also demonstrated a significant reduction in symptoms at 3 months, from 510 preoperatively to 209 (p <0.001). Both QOL and self-rated health improved in the HPT patients, whereas no change was found in the comparison group following surgery. PAS scores are a reliable, disease-specific measure of symptoms seen with HPT. Parathyroidectomy significantly reduces these preoperative symptoms, and this change translated into an improved health-related QOL for the patients.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Hyperparathyroidism / psychology
  • Hyperparathyroidism / surgery*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care* / methods
  • Parathyroidectomy*
  • Postoperative Period
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Treatment Outcome