Journal: Annals of surgical oncology
This scoping review evaluated how patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have been used in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) research.
Across 243 primary PHPT studies:
- 147 studies (49.7%) described symptoms or quality-of-life (QoL) concepts that could have been quantified with PROMs but did not use them.
- 96 studies (50.3%) incorporated at least one PROM (median 1 per study; IQR 1–2), with 36 distinct PROMs identified.
Most commonly used tools:
- 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36): 42 studies
- Parathyroidectomy Assessment of Symptoms (PAS): 20 studies
- Beck Depression Inventory (BDI): 12 studies
PROMs most often targeted symptom burden and mental health (e.g., anxiety, depression).
Disease-specific validity in PHPT was documented for only three instruments:
- SF-36
- PAS
- Primary Hyperparathyroidism Quality of Life Questionnaire
All other tools had been validated only in non-PHPT populations.
The authors conclude that PHPT research underutilizes rigorously validated PROMs, leading to missed opportunities to accurately assess health-related quality of life. They recommend more systematic and appropriate use of validated PROMs in future PHPT clinical studies to support reliable, patient-centered outcome assessment.