Endocrine Abstracts

Data on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFA) are sparse and conflicting. We have therefore evaluated the QoL in patients with NFAs followed-up in a tertiary UK referral centre and explored the impact of various factors. Three validated questionnaires (Short Form 36-SF36, Nottingham Health Profile-NHP and European Quality of Life Scale-EuroQoL) were offered to consecutive NFA subjects attending outpatient clinics over a 6-month period: 180 out of 193 responded (93.3%) [110 males; median age 64 years (range 33–90); 98.9% had surgery, 42.9% radiotherapy for primary/recurrent disease].

Results were compared with published normative data on the UK population. Overall, QoL scores of the total group for SF36 and EuroQoL were not significantly different from those of the general population, except for lower self-perceived health status [assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS)]. In the NHP, men did not differ from the general population and women had significantly impaired scores only on energy levels, health-related problems with interests/hobbies and with holidays. Linear regression analysis including age, gender, radiotherapy, recurrence and untreated hypogonadism as independent variables revealed that age was an independent predictor for reduced physical ability, holidays problems due to health status and role limitations due to physical problems (RP), sex an independent predictor for RP and compromised mental health, recurrence for lower VAS score and non-replaced hypogonadism for social isolation and worse scores in interests/hobbies. In this large series of patients with NFA we showed that overall, QoL is not substantially compromised. Amongst a wide range of items evaluated with the questionnaires used, there were changes in a small number of parameters related to age, female sex, relapse and non-treated hypogonadism as independent predictors of worse scores. We conclude that patients with NFAs treated in a tertiary referral centre have a Qol near the normal population.

Declaration of interest: There is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.

Funding: No specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.