| Abstract: |
Background: Acromegaly patients managed on Somatostatin receptor ligands (SRLs), the most common first-line pharmacotherapy for acromegaly, may still experience acromegaly symptoms such as headache, sweating, fatigue, soft tissue swelling, and joint pain, even those with normal IGF-1. Additionally, treatment with SRLs may cause injection site reactions and other side effects such as gastro-intestinal (GI) symptoms. This study utilized patient-reported outcome measures to examine the burden associated with acromegaly and its treatment for patients receiving a stable dose of long-acting SRLs in routine clinical practice. Methods: US acromegaly patients on a stable dose of SRL seen by their treating healthcare provider in the past 12 months completed a one-time online survey including the Acro-TSQ, an acromegaly-specific tool for assessing symptom burden and treatment satisfaction and convenience. Results: One hundred five patients were enrolled (mean age 49.9 years, 79.1% female). Patients experienced numerous symptoms, including > 80% who experienced joint pain, acro-fog, swelling of soft tissue, and fatigue/weakness. Many symptoms occurred constantly, while some occurred at the end of the injection cycle, even among those with IGF-1 < = 1.0 ULN. Injection site reactions were common. Patients were moderately satisfied with their current treatment; symptoms and side effects often affected daily activities. On average, patients reported > 3 acromegaly provider visits/year. Conclusions: Despite receiving a stable dose of SRL and regular visits with an acromegaly healthcare provider, US acromegaly patients in routine clinical practice, and even the subgroup with normal IGF-1, report significant burden of disease and treatment. © 2020 The Author(s). |
