Acromegaly increases depressive symptoms and reduces quality of life of cohabitants

Abstract

Purpose: To assess how living with patients with acromegaly affects people's psychology and quality of life (QoL).

Methods: Acromegaly patients and their cohabitants included in this study. Patients were administered Acromegaly Quality of Life Questionnaire (AcroQoL), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Cohabitants were administered quality of life questionnaire (SF-36), BAI, BDI, and Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI).

Results: This study included 84 patients with acromegaly and 84 cohabitants. Sixty-nine patients (n = 84, 82.1%) had an acromegalic appearance. Cohabitants who were affected by the acromegalic appearance had higher BAI, BDI, and ZBI scores than those who were not affected (p < 0.001 for all). Cohabitants who were affected by the acromegalic appearance had a significantly lower SF-36 score (p = 0.015). The BAI (r=-0.535, p < 0.001), BDI (r=-0.592, p < 0.001), and ZBI (r=-0.465, p < 0.001) scores of the cohabitants showed a negative correlation with AcroQoL. SF-36 scores showed correlation with AcroQoL (r = 0.387, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The chronic process of acromegaly and the external appearance of patients with this disease can negatively affect both the patients and the people living with them. Physicians being aware of this effect and taking counteractive measures may contribute positively to the course of acromegaly.

Keywords: Acromegalic appearance; Cohabitants; Inventories; Quality of life.