Health-Related Quality of Life Is Impaired in Patients With Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is poor among patients with the transthyretin amyloidosis variant type (ATTRv), according to a study being presented at the International Symposium on Amyloidosis 2024, taking place May 26-30 in Rochester, Minnesota.

In this cross-sectional study, which took place between 2021 and 2023, researchers analyzed 24 patients (average age, 51; mostly women) with ATTRv amyloidosis from an amyloidosis registry. They assessed HRQOL using the EuroQoL 5D-3L (EQ-5D-3L), characterizing patients as those without problems and those with moderate or severe problems in each domain. Subsequently, HRQOL was compared with that of the general population.

According to the findings, paresthesia (88%), weakness, and fatigue (79%) were prevalent symptoms among patients with ATTRv amyloidosis. The researchers observed that almost all patients experienced impairment in at least 1 EQ-5D-3L domain. Pain or discomfort was the most common complaint. Overall, compared with the general population, individuals with ATTRv amyloidosis demonstrated a greater impairment in HRQOL across all EQ-5D-3L domains.

“The study reveals substantial impairment in HRQOL for ATTRv amyloidosis patients, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions,” the researchers concluded. They added that these findings “lay the groundwork for future research and guide clinical approaches to improve the well-being of this affected population.”