Towards value-based health care in pituitary surgery: application of a comprehensive outcome set in perioperative care

OBJECTIVE: Although widely advocated, applying value-based health care (VBHC) in clinical practice is challenging. This study describes VBHC-based perioperative outcomes for patients with pituitary tumors up to 6 months postoperatively. METHODS: A total of 103 adult patients undergoing surgery were prospectively followed. Outcomes categorized according to the framework of VHBC included: survival, degree of resection, endocrine remission, visual outcome (including self-perceived functioning), recovery of pituitary function, disease burden, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at 6 months (Tier 1); Time to recovery of disease burden, HRQoL, visual function (Tier 2); Permanent hypopituitarism and accompanying hormone replacement (Tier 3). Generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis was performed to describe outcomes over time. RESULTS: Regarding Tier 1, there was no mortality, 72 patients (70%) had a complete resection, 31 of 45 patients (69%) with functioning tumors were in remission, 7 (12%, with preoperative deficits) had recovery of pituitary function, and 45 of 47 (96%) had visual improvement. Disease burden and HRQoL improved in 36-45% at 6 months, however there were significant differences between tumor types. Regarding Tier 2: disease burden, HRQoL, and visual functioning improved within 6 weeks after surgery, however recovery varied widely among tumor types (fastest in prolactinoma and non-functioning adenoma patients). Regarding Tier 3, 52 patients (50%) had persisting (tumor and treatment induced) hypopituitarism. CONCLUSIONS: Though challenging, outcomes of a surgical intervention for patients with pituitary tumors can be reflected through a VBHC-based comprehensive outcome set that can distinguish outcomes among different patient groups with respect to tumor type.