Quality of life is modestly improved in older patients with mild primary hyperparathyroidism postoperatively: results of a prospective multicenter study

International audienceBACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were to evaluate, in mild primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) patients, the quality of life (QoL) using the SF-36 questionnaire before and after parathyroidectomy and to detect preoperatively patients who benefit the most from surgery. Most pHPT patients present a mild pHPT defined by calcemia ≤11.4&nbsp;mg/dL. For these patients, there is debate about whether they should be managed with surveillance, medical therapy, or surgery.METHODS: A prospective multicenter study investigated QoL (SF-36) in patients with mild pHPT before and after parathyroidectomy in four university hospitals. Laboratory results and SF-36 scores were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively (3, 6, and 12&nbsp;months).RESULTS: One hundred sixteen patients were included. After surgery, the biochemical cure rate was 98%. Preoperatively, the mental component summary and the physical component summary (PCS) were 38.69 of 100 and 39.53 of 100, respectively. At 1&nbsp;year, the MCS and the PCS were 41.29 of 100 and 42.03 of 100. The subgroup analysis showed a more significant improvement in patients&nbsp;&lt;&nbsp;70&nbsp;years and with calcemia ≥10.4&nbsp;mg/dL. Postoperative PCS was correlated with age and preoperative PCS: variation&nbsp;=&nbsp;32.11&nbsp;-&nbsp;0.21&nbsp;×&nbsp;age&nbsp;-&nbsp;0.4&nbsp;×&nbsp;preoperative PCS. Men did not improve their MCS postoperatively. Only women with a preoperative MCS &lt;43.6 of 100 showed postoperative improvement.CONCLUSIONS: This study showed, in patients with mild pHPT, an improvement of QoL 1&nbsp;year after parathyroidectomy. Patients &lt;70&nbsp;years and with calcemia ≥10.4&nbsp;mg/dL had a more significant improvement.</p