Hypoparathyreiodism in Norway
Epidemiology and quality of life in hypoparathyreoidism in Norway
Main content
The parathyoroid glands control the levels of calcium in the body via secretion of the parathyroid hormone PTH. Hypoparathyroidism is rare hormone disease caused by either聽underproduction of PTH, or a lack of response聽to PTH (pseudyhypoparathyroidism).聽A major feature of the disease is low calcium (hypocalcemia), and the symptoms can range from skin tingling to muscle twitching and severe cramps. Patients are treated by calcium and activated vitamin D supplementation.
Researches from Endocrine Medicine and ROAS has published a聽in聽the leading american endocrinology journal JCEM.聽The study located over 500 persons with the disease, which gives a聽national prevalence聽of ~100 per聽million inhabitants. For 2/3 the condition聽was caused by neck surgery, while 1/3聽had autoimmune聽and genetic causes. A small share (8%)聽had聽pseudohypoprathyroidism, a genetic condition where the body produces聽enough PTH, but is not able to respond聽to it.聽Among those with non-surgical聽hypoparathyroidism, a cause of聽the disease was only found in 2/3 even after thorough聽investigations.
Using questionnaires for quality of life and depression/anxiety the study found that diseased patients had a reduced quality of life, even worse than Addison patients. "We聽have identified聽a need to improve聽treatment of hypoparathyroidsm, and we will keep working towards that" - Marianne Astor.
Following 聽an emergency card with medical information was produced and distributed to Norwegian, Swedish and German patients. The card provides quick and easy information to physicians on acute treatment of hypo鈥� and hypercalcemia.
The emergy card provides vital treatment information for emergency situations
