Roszko KL, Hu TY, Guthrie LC, et al. - Hypoparathyroidism is linked to a lower quality of life (QOL). Despite the bias in open-label studies to expect QOL gains, parathyroid hormone (PTH) therapy exhibited minimal and non-sustained benefits on QOL, equivocal changes in fatigue experience, and no change in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). While PTH 1–34 can effectively treat hypocalcemia in hypoparathyroidism, its benefits on QOL appear to be minor.

• In an open-label trial, 31 individuals with hypoparathyroidism were treated with full replacement subcutaneous PTH 1–34 twice daily for up to 5.3 years, with individualized fine dosing titration.

• The SF-36 evaluates physical function, physical role limitations (RP), bodily pain, general health (GH), vitality (VT), emotional role limitations (RE), social function (SF) and mental health (MH).

• Patients reported lower baseline scores in RP, GH, VT, and MH as compared to population norms, indicating the lower quality of life.

• Only GH at 6 months and VT at 12 months improved with PTH therapy.

• Compared with baseline, RP, VT, and SF improved at the last treatment timepoint.

• However, except for SF, which had decreased at follow-up compared to on-PTH, follow-up scores were unchanged from baseline or last PTH therapy.

• There were no changes in fatigue frequency on the Fatigue Symptom Inventory; perceived interference improved at 12 and 18 months, but composite severity improved only at 60 months.

• The 6MWT measures were unchanged.