Management of adrenal emergencies in educated patients with adrenal insufficiency-A prospective study.
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf)
; 89(1): 22-29, 2018 07.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29617051
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the management of adrenal emergencies (AE) requiring parenteral glucocorticoid (GC) treatment in patients with chronic adrenal insufficiency (AI).DESIGN:
Prospective, multicentre, questionnaire-based study. PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS Participating patients (n = 150) with chronic AI were provided with a questionnaire on the management of emergency situations, which had to be completed and sent back in case of an AE. In addition, patients were contacted by phone on a regular basis.RESULTS:
Fifty-nine AE in 39 patients were documented. The time interval from contact to arrival of a medical professional was 20 minutes (1-240). In total, in 43 AE, patients received parenteral GC by a medical professional. The time interval between showing the emergency card and GC injection by a medical professional was 60 minutes (5-360). A total of 26 patients administered GC by self-injection. The time from the beginning of symptoms to GC injection was significantly shorter in case of self-injection (self-injection vs injection by medical professional; 85 minutes [20-280] vs 232.5 minutes [1-3135]; P < .001). After self-injection, 62% of the patients were treated outpatient, compared to 27% of the patients after exclusive injection by a medical professional (P = .008). To improve the emergency management, most of the patients (84%) indicated a need for an easier way of self-injection.CONCLUSION:
While management of AE by both patients and medical professionals still shows high variability, patients profit from the option of self-injection. Patient care, including education of patients and health-professionals, as well as the way of GC administration, needs further optimization.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Insuficiência Adrenal
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
/
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article