Integration of adult patients with phenylketonuria into professional life: long-term follow-up of 27 patients in a single centre in Switzerland

Pers, Sabrina; Gautschi, Matthias; Nuoffer, Jean-Marc; Schwarz, Hans Peter; Christ, Emanuel (2014). Integration of adult patients with phenylketonuria into professional life: long-term follow-up of 27 patients in a single centre in Switzerland. Swiss medical weekly, 144, w14074. EMH Schweizerischer Ärzteverlag 10.4414/smw.2014.14074

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BACKGROUND

Neonatal screening and treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU) prevent the development of neurocognitive impairment. The degree of dysfunction may be related to metabolic control and responsible for a hampered school career.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study from a single metabolic unit of a Swiss University Hospital. The time point of diagnosis and all Phenylalanin (Phe) concentrations during the follow-up were recorded. The primary outcome was integration into professional life defined as no professional studies versus accomplished apprenticeship versus high school diploma/university. Phe levels were correlated with professional outcome. The control group consisted of the patients' healthy parents and siblings.

RESULTS

A total of 27 patients (13 females, 14 males) were included in the study. The mean (SD) follow-up period was 25.1 (7.6) years. The control group consisted of 57 subjects. Overall, 23 patients were diagnosed by neonatal screening, and 4 patients were diagnosed later. All 4 were in the non-professional study group. Compared with the controls there were significantly more patients in the non-professional study group (26% vs 9%, p <0.05) and significantly less in the accomplished apprenticeship group (59% vs 82%; p <0.04). After exclusion of the patients with late diagnosis no significant differences were found with regard to the professional integration between patients and controls. Significant differences in Phe-levels between the three groups could be documented between 2-10 years of age with the highest levels in the non-professional study followed by the accomplished apprenticeship and the high school diploma group (p <0.01).

CONCLUSION

Patients who are diagnosed by neonatal screening and are consequently cared for are able to accomplish an apprenticeship or a high school diploma.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Clinical Nutrition
04 Faculty of Medicine > Medical Education > Institute for Medical Education > Assessment and Evaluation Unit (AAE)
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > Unit Childrens Hospital > Forschungsgruppe Endokrinologie / Diabetologie / Metabolik (Pädiatrie)
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Haematology, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Medicine and Hospital Pharmacy (DOLS) > Institute of Clinical Chemistry
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Paediatric Medicine

UniBE Contributor:

Gautschi, Matthias, Nuoffer, Jean-Marc, Schwarz, Hans Peter, Christ, Emanuel

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1424-7860

Publisher:

EMH Schweizerischer Ärzteverlag

Language:

English

Submitter:

Anette van Dorland

Date Deposited:

19 Mar 2015 15:58

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:44

Publisher DOI:

10.4414/smw.2014.14074

PubMed ID:

25539422

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.65303

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/65303

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