Endocrine Abstracts

Background: A Turner Syndrome (TS) Transition clinic, Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow(RHCG), with paediatric and adult endocrinology/gynaecology teams was set up in 1998.

Objective: 1) To evaluate the success of TS transition

2) To determine what factors influence long-term follow-up in an adult service – good early attendance in an adult clinic and meeting an adult specialist prior to transfer to adult clinic.

Methods: Girls attending the TS Transition clinic at RHCG, 1998–2017, were identified. Attendance data were obtained from patient records and an electronic appointment system. Success of TS Transition was determined by the proportion of girls in established follow-up. Good late attendance and good early attendance was assessed in all girls and was defined as those attending last and penultimate paediatric appointments and both first and second adult appointments respectively. Only girls transferred prior to 2015 were included in analysis of established follow-up, defined as those girls remaining in an adult clinic 3 years after transfer.

Results: 46 girls (median age 18.3yrs) were identified. 36/46 girls transferred prior to 2015 and 26/36 (72%) girls were in established follow-up at 3 years. 26/36 girls, transferred prior to 2015, were good early attenders, of them, 21(80.7%) are in established follow-up. 42/46 (91%) girls were good late attenders and 32/46(70%) girls were good early attenders. 27/46 girls had met with an Adult specialist prior to transfer, 20/27(74%) were good early attenders. 19/46 had not met with an adult specialist prior to transfer, 12/19(63%) were good early attenders.

Conclusion: A significant proportion of girls with TS are currently lost to follow-up following transfer to adult clinics. Early attendance at an adult clinic appears to predict established long-term follow-up. Strategies to improve early attendance and long-term follow-up are needed to ensure lifelong health needs are addressed.