The socioeconomic burden of acromegaly

Abstract

Acromegaly is a rare and insidious disease characterized by chronic excess growth hormone, leading to various morphological changes and systemic complications. Despite its low prevalence, acromegaly poses a significant socioeconomic burden on patients and healthcare systems. This review synthesizes the current state of knowledge on the psychosocial burden, disability, impact on daily life, and cost of acromegaly disease, focusing on the quality of life, partnership, medical care and treatment afflictions, participation in daily activities, professional and leisure impairment, and cost of treatment for acromegaly and its comorbidities. It also examines management strategies, coping mechanisms, and interventions aimed at alleviating this burden. A comprehensive understanding of the extent of the socioeconomic burden in acromegaly is crucial to develop effective strategies to improve treatment and care. Further research is warranted to explore the myriad factors contributing to this burden, as well as the efficacy of interventions to alleviate it, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for patients with acromegaly.

Keywords: absenteeism; acromegaly; cost of illness; disability; pituitary; quality of life; socioeconomic burden.