Cardiovascular Care of Turner Syndrome Women in Germany: Where Do We Stand?—Results from an Online Patient Survey

Martina Bačová,Robert Dalla-Pozza,Felix Sebastian Oberhoffer,Nikolaus Alexander Haas,Pengzhu Li,Leonie Arnold

doi:10.3390/healthcare10030504

Martina Bačová, Robert Dalla-Pozza + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10030504

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Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate whether the cardiovascular care of Turner Syndrome (TS) women in Germany is in accordance with the latest clinical practice guidelines established by the 2016 Cincinnati international TS meeting. Methods: An anonymous online questionnaire was created to ask TS subjects about existing cardiovascular conditions and cardiovascular care received. Depending on cardiovascular morbidity and type of medical care received, the fulfillment of the latest clinical practice guidelines for the care of TS women was assessed. Results: 120 TS patients were included in this study. The mean age of TS subjects was 36.79 years. Only 80% of subjects received annual blood pressure measurements within the TS cohort, and only 60% received cardiac imaging according to international clinical practice guidelines. More than 55% of TS women did not feel well informed about TS-specific cardiovascular risk factors by their treating physician. Conclusions: A potential lack of cardiovascular care might be present in TS women in Germany as the results of this online patient survey suggest. The cardiovascular care of TS patients, particularly cardiac imaging and patient education, needs to receive more attention.

Highlights

Academic Editor: Stefano RestainoTurner Syndrome (TS) is a genetic disorder caused by a complete or partial loss of one of the sex chromosomes [1]
A national cohort study conducted by Schoemaker et al revealed that mortality in TS is up to threefold higher compared to the general population and that cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death [9]
Over 55% of TS subjects did not feel well informed on TS-specific cardiovascular risk factors by their treating physician

Summary

Introduction

Academic Editor: Stefano RestainoTurner Syndrome (TS) is a genetic disorder caused by a complete or partial loss of one of the sex chromosomes [1]. A national cohort study conducted by Schoemaker et al revealed that mortality in TS is up to threefold higher compared to the general population and that cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death [9]. This study aimed to investigate whether the cardiovascular care of Turner Syndrome (TS) women in Germany is in accordance with the latest clinical practice guidelines established by the 2016 Cincinnati international TS meeting. 80% of subjects received annual blood pressure measurements within the TS cohort, and only 60% received cardiac imaging according to international clinical practice guidelines. Conclusions: A potential lack of cardiovascular care might be present in TS women in Germany as the results of this online patient survey suggest. The cardiovascular care of TS patients, cardiac imaging and patient education, needs to receive more attention

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