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Abstract
Previously, utilizing a disease-specific outcome tool (Parathyroidectomy Assessment
Of Symptoms or PAS scores) for hyperparathyroidism (HPT), parathyroidectomy was shown
to decrease many of the vague nonspecific symptoms associated with HPT. The purpose
of this study was to assess whether this improvement persists in the long term.
PAS Scores and quality of life (QOL) measures were mailed to patients previously enrolled
in the primary HPT study, including the thyroidectomy comparison group. Data were
compared pre-operatively, 1 and 10 years after operation.
Of the original 122 HPT patients, 78 (64%) and 39/58 (68%) of the thyroidectomy patients
participated. The pre-operative PAS score in the HPT group was 318; this decreased
to 177 at 1 year and 189 at 10 years (P < .05). In contrast, thyroidectomy had PAS
scores of 170 pre-operatively, 190 at 1 year, and 174 at 10 years (P = .1). HPT patients
were more symptomatic pre-operatively compared to the thyroidectomy group (318 vs
170; P < .05), yet at 1 and 10 years, there were no differences. QOL was better in
the HPT group at 10 years compared to pre-operatively (P < .05).
This prospective study demonstrates the long-term benefit of parathyroidectomy in
primary HPT patients. Decrease of their pre-operative symptoms appears to have contributed
to their improved QOL at 10 years.