title: Diagnostic delay is associated with psychosocial impairment in acromegaly.
abstract: The aim of this study was to systematically assess health care utilisation, diagnostic delay and psychosocial impairment in patients with acromegaly in rural versus urban health care environments. 41 patients with acromegaly were questioned to time lapse of symptom onset, first seeking medical advice and time of acromegaly diagnosis. Quality of life (QoL), and psychosocial impairment (depression, daytime sleepiness, sleep disturbances, disturbances of body image) were measured by self-assessment questionnaires. Patients were grouped into living in rural health care environments (RHCE, n = 22 patients) or urban health care environments (UHCE, n = 19 patients) using data on population density from the German Federal Statistical Office. RHCE patients waited significantly longer (2.5 vs. 0.89 years; p = .025) after symptom onset before seeking medical advice, but diagnosis of acromegaly was established at least as quickly as in UHCE (1.45 vs. 2.74 years; n.s.). There was a consistent trend toward more psychosocial impairment in UHCE which reached significance for sleep disturbances (p = .004). For all patients significant correlations between time delay of diagnostic process (defined as first visit to the doctor because of acromegaly-related symptoms and establishment of acromegaly diagnosis) and psychological QoL, depression, daytime sleepiness, sleep disorders and body image emerged. Patients with acromegaly in UHCE experienced more psychosocial impairment than patients in RHCE. The correlation of significantly increased psychosocial impairment and delay of diagnosis by the physician may reflect long-lasting embitterment in patients with acromegaly and should be considered during psychosocial counselling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Streetz-van der Werf
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Schott
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Karges
authors.forename: Ilonka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kreitschmann-Andermahr
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult