Endocrine Abstracts

Objective

This was a systematic review with meta-analysis aiming to identify if patients with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) had a reduced full scale intelligent quotient (IQ) when compared to controls. Reduced IQ is shown to have a negative multifaceted effect on individuals’ Quality of Life (QoL), having been shown as a predictor of future success, increased criminal behaviour, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), lower academic achievements and increased prosocial deficits. Assessment of patients’ IQ can support clinicians in delivering patient care intervention which can address individualised QoL deficits and patients’ unmet needs. This is particularly relevant and crucial in achieving holistic nursing care to intervention.

Design

Meta-analysis was completed in Review manager 5.4, using continuous data and running an inverse variance random-effects model, using Std. mean difference for the effect measure, a forest plot was created. This analysed the results on full scale IQ from all studies that used both controls, KS participants and a validated measuring tool to record IQ. Seven studies in total were appropriate to be combined for meta-analysis. The seven studies included were extracted from the initial systematic review analysing factors that can influence QoL in patients with KS.

Data sources

Medline, Cochrane, Embase, Psychinfo, CINAHL, BASE and grey search from the reference lists of key publications.

Eligibility criteria

RCT’s, Cohort studies, cross sectional studies and Epidemiology studies involving patients with KS and reporting on QoL parameters. Both adult and paediatric participants were included.

Results

The results from the meta-analysis suggest association with a lower full-scale IQ and a KS diagnosis. There is strong significant difference between patients with KS and Controls, significant P and Z values mean the probability of achieving the results by chance are lowered and the null hypothesis can be rejected. The statistical differences identified suggest a negative association between full scale IQ and KS when compared to controls, suggesting lower full-scale IQ can be associated with KS.

Conclusions

Significant Z & P values (Z=8.10, P < 0.00001) indicate that men with KS have a significantly lower IQ than healthy controls which has a negative impact on patients’ QoL. Currently there are no validated scales to measure QoL parameters, including IQ, for patients with KS. Future research is needed to develop a KS-specific scale for use in clinical practice to identify patients’ deficits in QoL parameters and plan appropriate care management plans to improve patients’ QoL.

Prospero registration number - CRD4202017343.