Quality of life in female patients with acromegaly

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life and depression status in female patients with acromegaly. Patients and methods: Fifty-seven female patients with acromegaly (21 inactive, 36 active) who were being followed-up at the Cerrahpasa Medical School, Endocrinology and Metabolism out-patient clinic, were included in the study. Depression status and quality of life of the patients were evaluated according to disease activity using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Acromegaly Quality of Life (AcroQoL) Questionnaire. Prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E-2), total and free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-SO4), 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, free thyroxin (FT4), thyrotropin (TSH), cortisol, GH and IGF-I were studied in the groups. Results: The AcroQoL total score in female patients with controlled acromegaly and uncontrolled acromegaly were 45.5 [Interquartile range (IQR)= 32.9-57.4], 47.7 [(IQR)= 38.6-63.3], respectively (p=0.53). There was no difference in BDI scores in acromegalic patients according to disease activity (p=0.41). In the correlation analysis, a strong negative correlation was found between AcroQoL total score and BDI score (r=-0.72, p<0.0001), OSAS (r=-0.32, p=0.01). Conclusion: This study showed that QoL was impaired in female patients with acromegaly even if they were in remission. Depressive mood and obstuctive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) could affect QoL in female patients with acromegaly. (C) 2013, Editrice Kurtis