Tag: Endocrine Society

Felix Beuschlein announced as winner of 2024 Transatlantic Alliance Award in Endocrinology

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Newswise — The Endocrine Society and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) are delighted to announce that they have awarded the 2024 Transatlantic Alliance Award to Professor Felix Beuschlein, MD.

Felix Beuschlein is Professor of Internal Medicine/Endocrinology and Director of the Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetology and Clinical Nutrition at the University Clinic Zurich in Switzerland. He received his medical degree from School of Medicine at the University of Würzburg and completed his medical training in Freiburg, both in Germany. For postdoctoral studies he joined the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Following a professorship for Endocrine Research at the University of Munich, he was elected for a chair position at the University of Zurich in 2017.

The Transatlantic Alliance Award, which was launched in 2021, recognizes an international leader who has made significant advancements in endocrine research on both sides of the Atlantic—in Europe and the United States.

Professor Beuschlein has received this prestigious Award in recognition of his transformational endocrine research and the impact of this research in the field of adrenal tumors. Through his collaborative approach across the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENS@T) with colleagues from the American Australasian Asian Adrenal Alliance (A5), he has fostered the transformation of knowledge and understanding of adrenal tumours and unlocked true transatlantic collaboration.

“Felix Beuschlein has been instrumental in driving research forward in the adrenal tumor field and he has demonstrated what can be achieved when collaborating with colleagues across Europe and across the Atlantic,” said ESE President Professor Jérôme Bertherat. He added, “We are delighted to recognize his sizable contribution to endocrinology and the many committees he has been involved with.”

“This Award honors Felix Beuschlein’s excellence in leadership, his lifetime achievement in teaching and research, and his outstanding contributions to the field of endocrinology,” said Endocrine Society President Stephen Hammes, MD, PhD. “In addition to his dedication to advancing adrenal tumor research, Dr. Beuschlein has paved the way for international exchange between fellow endocrine researchers and clinicians, both as the chair of our annual meeting in 2021, and as an associate editor of our flagship clinical research journal The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. He is truly a worthy recipient of this award.”

Beuschlein’s scientific interests mainly relate to adrenal disorders and endocrine tumors. He has authored more than 460 publications in high-ranking international journals and has received many awards, including the European Journal of Endocrinology Prize and the Society for Endocrinology (UK) European Medal. He has organized several scientific meetings and has co-chaired the program organizing committee for a European Congress of Endocrinology (ECE) meeting and served as head of the annual meeting steering committee of the ENDO 2021 meeting. As a strong believer in the value of scientific and clinical networking, Beuschlein has been involved in numerous national and international approaches, including coordination of the ENS@T-CANCER Consortium and participation in a number of European and international programs. He has served on several boards including the Annual Meeting Steering Committee of the Endocrine Society, the Executive Committee of the Swiss Endocrine Society and has been the vice president of the German Endocrine Society. He has been a founding member, Steering Committee member and chairman of ENS@T.

Beuschlein commented, “I am deeply moved to be this year’s recipient of the Transatlantic Alliance Award. As a strong believer in the power of international collaborations, this award comes as a particular honor as it signifies the connection of the international endocrine community through science and clinical care. The award reflects also more than personal achievement but rather a broad array of dedicated individuals – mentors who have guided me, colleagues with whom I share the dedication in endocrine research, and the next generation of students and researchers who bring fresh perspectives and renewed energy. I am obliged to both societies and applaud their common spirit to pushing the frontiers of endocrinology for the betterment of patient care worldwide.”

Beuschlein will present his award lecture at ECE, the 26^th European Congress of Endocrinology, which will take place from May 11-14, 2024, in Stockholm, Sweden. He will also speak at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, ENDO 2024, which will take place from June 1-4, 2024, in Boston, Mass.

Nominations for the 2025 Transatlantic Alliance Award will open later this year.

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About the Endocrine Society

Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

About the European Society of Endocrinology

The European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) provides a platform to develop and share leading research and best knowledge in endocrine science and medicine. By uniting and representing every part of the endocrine community, we are best placed to improve the lives of patients. With over 5,000 individual members and through the 51 National Societies involved with the ESE Council of Affiliated Societies (ECAS) ESE represents a community of over 20,000 European endocrinologists. We inform policy makers on health decisions at the highest level through advocacy efforts across Europe.

To find out more, please visit www.ese-hormones.org. Follow us on Twitter @ESEndocrinology, Facebook @EuropeanSocietyofEndocrinology and LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/european-society-of-endocrinology.

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October 20, 2023
Primary care intervention reduces hypoglycemia risk from type 2 diabetes overtreatment in older adults

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Newswise — WASHINGTON—A newly published quality improvement study shows how a simple intervention by health care providers reduced the number of older adult patients with type 2 diabetes at risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) by almost 50% and led to de-escalation of diabetes medications that cause hypoglycemia in 20% of patients.

Twenty percent of Americans aged 65 and older have diabetes. This age group is particularly at risk for hypoglycemia because older people are often overtreated with insulin and other diabetes medications that can cause hypoglycemia. Severe hypoglycemia episodes in older adults can lead to adverse events such as falls, seizures, coma, and even death.

Severe hypoglycemia from insulin and certain oral type 2 diabetes medications is the second most common adverse drug event resulting in emergency room visits and hospitalizations in older people with diabetes.

“This study demonstrates that a low-cost clinical decision support tool, without the additional use of continuous glucose monitoring technology, can decrease the number of patients at high risk for hypoglycemia and reduce overtreatment with insulin and diabetes medications that cause hypoglycemia,” said study author Jeffrey B. Boord M.D., M.P.H., of Parkview Health System in Fort Wayne, Ind. Boord is the Chair of the Endocrine Society’s Hypoglycemia Prevention Initiative Steering Committee. “The patients in our study also reported significant reductions in the negative impact of hypoglycemia on their daily lives.”

The study included 94 patients at risk of treatment-related hypoglycemia at Pottstown Medical Specialists in Pottstown, Pa. Physicians were trained on how to use a clinical decision support (CDS) tool to facilitate shared decision making with patients and improve health outcomes.

During three clinic visits over 6 months, the clinicians used the tool to assess hypoglycemic risk, set individualized HbA1c (blood sugar level) goals, and reduce or discontinue the use of diabetes medications that can cause hypoglycemia.

The use of the clinical decision support tool and shared decision making reduced the at-risk population by 46% and led to the discontinuation of hypoglycemic medications in 20% of participants. Patients also completed a validated patient-reported outcome tool (TRIM-HYPO) to evaluate the impact of non-severe hypoglycemic events on their daily lives. The patients reported improvements in their daily functioning, emotional well-being, diabetes management, sleep disruption and work productivity related to reduction in non-severe hypoglycemic events.

“Because this intervention was so successful, we hope that our clinical decision support tool could be adopted for use in other primary care settings to lower the risk of hypoglycemia and improve the overall well-being of older adults with diabetes,” Boord said.

The HypoPrevent study was part of a larger, multi-year joint effort by the Endocrine Society and Avalere Health, known as the Hypoglycemia Prevention Initiative, to determine best practices in primary care to reduce the impact of hypoglycemia on older (65+) people with type 2 diabetes who use medications that cause hypoglycemia and have a recent A1c <7%, both of which put them at increased risk of hypoglycemia.

In conjunction with HypoPrevent, the Society formed a technical expert panel to develop quality measures—tools that help us measure or quantify healthcare processes, outcomes, patient perceptions and organizational structure—to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia in the outpatient setting. These performance measures are designed to help providers identify opportunities to improve patient care.

For details about the initiative including an implementation guide for how to use the clinical decision tool and resources on the key role of the diabetes educator, visit: endocrine.org/hypoglycemia-prevention-initiative.

The other authors of this study are Deborah A. Koehn of VCU Stony Point Women’s Health in Richmond, Va.; Kathleen Marie Dungan of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio; Amisha Wallia of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Ill.; Deborah Otcasek Lucas of Avalere Health and BridgingCare LLC in Washington, D.C.; Robert W. Lash and Mila N. Becker of the Endocrine Society in Washington, D.C.; and Lawrence D. Dardick of David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in Los Angeles, Calif.

The study was funded by Abbott Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi.

The study, “Reducing Hypoglycemia From Overtreatment of Type 2 Diabetes in Older Adults: The HypoPrevent Study,” was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

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Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

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September 27, 2023
Prompt testosterone treatment improves mental health of transgender, gender-diverse people

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Newswise — Receiving rapid access to testosterone therapy reduced feelings of gender dysphoria and led to a clinically significant reduction in depression as well as a 50% reduction in suicidality among transgender and gender diverse adults, according to research being presented Sunday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago.

“This is the world-first randomized clinical trial supporting the significant benefits of testosterone in reducing gender dysphoria, depression and suicidality in trans individuals desiring commencement of testosterone,” said Brendan Nolan, M.B.B.S., F.R.A.C.P., a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Melbourne (Austin Health) in Melbourne, Australia.

Gender dysphoria occurs when a person feels distressed that their gender identity does not align with the sex assigned at birth. When an individual’s gender identity is not respected and the individual cannot access medical care, it can result in higher psychological problem scores and can raise the person’s risk of committing suicide or other acts of self-harm.

Nolan and colleagues sought to understand the impact of testosterone therapy compared with no treatment on gender dysphoria, depression, and suicidality in trans adults seeking masculinization.

The three-month open-label randomized controlled trial included 64 transgender adults who were able to start testosterone therapy immediately (intervention group) compared with those who were on a standard waiting list of three months prior to beginning testosterone. The purpose of this segmentation was to ensure no person would have to prolong waiting to begin treatment beyond standard care practices.

People who were able to begin treatment immediately showed decreased gender dysphoria and a clinically significant decrease in depression and suicidal ideation compared with study participants on the wait list.

Suicidal ideation resolved in 11 (52%) people with immediate testosterone therapy, compared with 1 (5%) given standard care, according to results from the Patient Health Questionnaire-9.

“Our findings illustrate the significant mental health benefits of early access to testosterone treatment and should provide an impetus for clinicians to ensure timely access to gender-affirming hormone therapy,” Nolan said.

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Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

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June 18, 2023
Radioactive iodine or surgery associated with increased survival in hyperthyroidism

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Newswise — Hyperthyroidism treatment like radioactive iodine or surgery was associated with a decreased risk for death, according to research being presented Saturday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago.

“Hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid gland is common, affecting up to 3% of the population, and is associated with long-term adverse cardiac and metabolic consequences. The optimal treatment choice remains unclear,” said Kristien Boelaert, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of endocrinology from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

Boelaert and colleagues identified 55,318 patients with newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism, treated with antithyroid drugs (ATD; 77.6%), radioiodine (14.6%), or thyroidectomy (7.8%) from a U.K. population-based electronic health record database for the EGRET Study.

They examined all-cause mortality, major cardiovascular events (MACE: cardiovascular death, heart failure, or stroke), and post-treatment obesity. The average follow-up was roughly 12 years.

Those treated with antithyroid drugs had an estimated mean survival of 12 years, according to the data. Survival increased in those treated with radioiodine by 1.7 years and thyroidectomy by 1.1 years. People treated with antithyroid drugs had an estimated 10.2% risk of MACE, which significantly increased by an additional 1.3% with radioiodine but not with thyroidectomy.

These definitive treatments were associated with a significantly increased survival, despite a small increased risk for overall weight gain. For example, thyroidectomy was associated with an increased likelihood of obesity in both men and women. Radioiodine treatment led to increased obesity risk in women, but not in men.

“Our findings are important and will inform decision-making processes for patients and clinicians when considering optimal treatment options and are likely to impact clinical practice guidelines in the future,” Boelaert said.

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Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

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June 17, 2023
Transgender people seen in the ER much more likely than cisgender people to be admitted to hospital

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Newswise — Transgender people who come to the emergency room for care tend to be sicker than cisgender people who are otherwise similar to them and are much more likely to be admitted to the hospital once they visit the ER, according to a study being presented Saturday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.

“Our findings suggest that decreasing discrimination against transgender people in society and in health care, and improving the outpatient care they are able to access in the community, may keep them healthier and help them avoid visits to the ER,” said lead researcher Daphna Stroumsa, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. “Improving access to transgender-friendly health care can improve the health of this population, and help decrease the burden on emergency rooms and hospitals.”

More than 1.6 million people over the age of 13 in the United States are transgender and gender diverse. Because of social discrimination, they face many difficulties getting the health care they need, Stroumsa said. Fearing discrimination from some medical providers—a common experience among transgender people—they often avoid getting care until they are very sick. Transgender people may need to use emergency room services for basic services, or because their chronic conditions were not treated. The study examined ER visits unrelated to gender-affirming medical care.

In the new study, the researchers analyzed data from a group of databases known as the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. A total of 66,382 visits were made by people identified as transgender between 2006 and 2018.

The researchers found a rapid increase in the proportion of visits by people who identified as transgender, from 0.001% of visits in 2006 to 0.016% in 2018. There were significant demographic differences between transgender and cisgender patients. Transgender and gender-diverse people were significantly more likely to be admitted, adjusting for payment, age group, region, income and mental health condition (overall 52.4% vs. 17.3%). A large proportion of ED visits by transgender and gender-diverse individuals was associated with a chronic condition (58.2% vs. 19.2%) and/or with a mental health diagnosis (28.7%, compared with 3.9% for others). Hospital admission among transgender and gender-diverse people was much more likely to be linked to a chronic condition (67.3% vs 41.3%) or a mental health condition (37.2% vs. 5.3%).

“The high admission rates, and the high proportion of transgender and gender-diverse people with a chronic condition or with mental health condition, may represent worse overall health due lack of primary care, or a delay in seeking emergency care among transgender and gender-diverse people,” Stroumsa said. “Discrimination and transphobia have direct consequences, worsen the health of transgender people, and lead to poor use of health care resources. There is a need for increasing access to affirming primary and mental health care among transgender and gender-diverse people.”

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Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

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June 17, 2023
Employees with obesity may have higher loss of work productivity than those with normal weight

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Newswise — CHICAGO—People with obesity may have lower work productivity due to increased risk of illness, contributing to increased costs for employers, according to industry-supported research being presented Saturday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, in Chicago, Ill.

Obesity is a significant public health issue affecting approximately 42% of people in the United States. Employees with overweight or obesity are more likely to develop weight-related comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, which all contribute to lower work productivity.

“Employees with overweight and obesity may have higher loss of work productivity as measured by absenteeism, short and long-term disability, and worker’s compensation compared to employees with normal weight,” said Clare J. Lee, M.D., of Eli Lilly & Company in Indianapolis, Ind.

Co-author Shraddha Shinde M.B.A, also of Eli Lilly & Company, added that, “Given the substantial burden of overweight and obesity on employee health and function that was demonstrated by this study, employers should focus on building tailored interventions that could be beneficial in improving the health of these individuals.”

The researchers evaluated 719,482 employees with and without obesity in the MarketScan databases. They determined the percentage of employees with work loss, number of hours/days lost from work, and costs associated with productivity loss were higher among people with overweight or obesity. The loss of work productivity was greater with each higher Body Mass Index (BMI) category.

The researchers found costs associated with absenteeism, short and long-term disability, and worker’s compensation were $891, $623, $41, and $112 higher per year (respectively) for people with obesity compared to those with normal weight.

Funding for this study was provided by Eli Lilly and Company.

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Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

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June 17, 2023
Gaps remain in identifying, treating obesity despite new treatment options

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Newswise — CHICAGO—By being undiagnosed or untreated, a significant fraction of people with obesity or overweight are not getting the recommended care, despite an increase in new treatment options, according to research being presented on June 17 at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.

“The number of people with obesity is high and rising in the adult U.S. population. Obesity is a complex and expensive disease that has been implicated in many chronic conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases,” said Kyrian Ezendu, Ph.D., an Eli Lilly and Company advisor on benefit-risk research. “Medications to treat obesity are an integral part of long-term care for people with excess weight and are recommended for people with obesity or people with overweight and at least one obesity-related condition.”

Ezendu and colleagues used data from linked electronic health records and insurance claims of people ages 18 to 80 years who were eligible for obesity medications each year from 2016 to 2021. The anti-obesity medications included phentermine-topiramate, lorcaserin, orlistat, naltrexone-bupropion, liraglutide and semaglutide.

There were approximately 1.6 million to 2.2 million adults with overweight or obesity, eligible for obesity medications in the study cohort for each year.

The overall obesity diagnosis rate based on both electronic health records and claims increased from 39.4% in 2016 to 57.2% in 2021. However, diagnosis rates from insurance claims alone were only 33.5% in 2016 and 47.3% in 2021.

Similarly, the overweight diagnosis rate grew from 18.1% in 2016 to 31.2% in 2021. Meanwhile, the claims-based rate was 15.4% in 2016 and 29.2% in 2021.

Prescribing rates for anti-obesity medications were low, according to the researchers, ranging from 0.4% to 0.5% across all years. Much like the obesity diagnosis and overweight diagnosis rates, the prescription fill rates showed an increase from 0.4% in 2016 to 0.6% in 2021.

Of note, the prescribing and fill rates from 2016 to 2021 for liraglutide doubled (from 0.1% to 0.2%). For semaglutide, it quadrupled (from 0.1% to 0.4%).

“This research demonstrates a potential gap in clinical care for people with obesity and overweight. Proper documentation of the clinical diagnosis may facilitate guideline-based treatment of obesity and overweight, particularly with the availability of several FDA-approved medications for use as an adjunct to lifestyle changes in managing obesity or overweight,” Ezendu said.

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June 17, 2023
Study finds “robotic pill” can safely deliver injectable osteoporosis drug

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Newswise — A proven and effective medication for osteoporosis, which is currently only available as an injection, can be administered orally using a novel “robotic pill,” according to a study presented Saturday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.

“We believe this study provides the first clinical evidence of safe and successful delivery of the osteoporosis drug teriparatide through an oral robotic pill,” said Arvinder Dhalla, Ph.D., who leads Clinical Development at Rani Therapeutics, the San Jose, Calif.-based company that developed the technology and funded the study. “Data from this study are very encouraging and should give hope to those suffering from chronic conditions that require painful injections, like osteoporosis, that an oral alternative could be on the way.”

When a person swallows the robotic pill, it moves through the stomach intact. In the intestine the pill releases a self-inflating balloon with a microsyringe, which injects a drug-filled microneedle and delivers the medication.

“The intestines do not have pain response to needles, so the injection is painless,” Dhalla said. The needle rapidly dissolves, and the medication is absorbed while the delivery mechanism deflates and is safely passed out of the body.

“The robotic pill, which is essentially a swallowable auto-injector in the form of a pill, is designed to deliver the drug safely and efficiently as a painless intestinal injection,” she said.

The Phase I study of 39 healthy women evaluated the safety, tolerability and movement through the body of the robotic pill known as RT-102, containing a dose of the drug teriparatide (PTH 1-34). Teriparatide is a synthetic form of the natural human parathyroid hormone. It has been in clinical use for decades as an injectable medication (under the brand name Forteo®) for rebuilding brittle bones of osteoporosis patients. It is taken as a daily injection for up to two years.

Study participants were divided into three groups. Two groups received either a lower or higher dose delivered with the robotic pill, and the third group received a standard injection of teriparatide. Fluoroscopic imaging was used to track the robotic pill through and out the body. Drug concentrations were measured in blood samples collected over six hours. The study found the bioavailability (the ability of the drug to be absorbed and used by the body) of the drug delivered by the robotic pill was comparable to or better than the drug given via the injection.

“This breakthrough technology of converting injections into oral pills is a significant step forward towards ending the burden of painful injections for millions of patients suffering from chronic diseases,” Dhalla said.

Dhalla is scheduled to present at the Society’s ENDO 2023 hormones and technology news conference at 9 AM Central on Saturday, June 17. Register to view the news conference livestream at endomediastream.com.

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Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

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June 17, 2023
Endocrine Society Condemns Florida Ban on Gender-Affirming Care

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Newswise — WASHINGTON—The Endocrine Society rebukes the Florida Board of Medicine’s decision to ban gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse teenagers.

We call on the Florida Board of Medicine to reverse the ban and allow physicians to provide evidence-based care and protect the lives of minors.

The Florida ban is blatantly discriminatory and contradicts medical evidence followed by the Endocrine Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the Pediatric Endocrine Society and other mainstream medical organizations.

When an individual’s gender identity is not respected and they cannot access medical care, it can result in higher psychological problem scores and can raise the person’s risk of committing suicide or other acts of self-harm. Research has found denying access to puberty-delaying medication and/or hormone therapy raises the risk of suicidal ideation and self-harm.

According to the Endocrine Society’s globally recognized evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines, only reversible treatments to delay puberty are recommended for adolescents.  Puberty-delaying medication is safe, reversible, and the conservative approach that gives teenagers and their families more time to explore their options. The same treatment has been used for decades to treat precocious puberty.

Teenagers who continue to demonstrate gender incongruence and who demonstrate the ability to provide informed consent can be offered gender-affirming hormone therapy, which is partially reversible. The Florida Medicaid ban prevents teenagers from accessing these important treatment options.

Medical evidence, not politics, should inform treatment decisions. The Endocrine Society submitted comments earlier this year during the abbreviated public comment period on the Board’s guidance on “treating gender dysphoria for children and adolescents, yet the Florida Board of Health opted to rely on controversial research that is not recognized by the mainstream medical community in crafting its ban on gender-affirming care. Consequently, the state blocked transgender residents from receiving gender-affirming care through Medicaid coverage.

Twenty states have proposed legislation to limit access to care during the 2022 legislative session, according to Freedom for All Americans. The Endocrine Society is alarmed that misinformation about medical care recommended for transgender and gender-diverse adolescents is fueling efforts to limit access to gender-affirming care. The move by the Florida Board of Health to ban gender-affirming care based on a political agenda rather than on science sets a dangerous precedent for all health care decisions.

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Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

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November 4, 2022
Endocrine Society experts recommend individualized approach to use of telehealth
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Newswise — WASHINGTON—Following rapid growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth visits are expected to remain an important part of endocrine care, according to a new Endocrine Society policy perspective published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Health care providers need to consider a variety of factors when determining which type of visit best serves an individual patient’s needs at a given moment. For many patients, scheduling a mixture of in-person and telehealth visits can make medical care more convenient and effective.

“Clinicians will need to draw upon their own knowledge of each patient and their clinical goals to decide when to incorporate telehealth into their care,” said Varsha G. Vimalananda, M.D., M.P.H., of VA Bedford Healthcare System in Bedford, Mass., and Boston University School of Medicine in Boston, Mass. She is the policy perspective’s first author. “Telehealth visits can be considered as an option each time we schedule an appointment. Patient preference should be elicited, and decisions guided by weighing the factors we describe in the perspective piece.”

The policy perspective explores five aspects of care that determine when telehealth is appropriate, including:
- Clinical factors, including whether an in-person physical exam or assessment is needed;
- Patient factors, such as geographic distance to the clinic, access to transportation, work and family obligations, and comfort level with technology;
- The patient-clinician relationship;
- The clinician’s physical surroundings and personal circumstances; and
- Availability of infrastructure needed to provide quality telehealth services.
Telehealth can be a valuable component of an individualized care plan. Health care providers and patients should discuss how telehealth fits into care as they develop a care plan together, the policy perspective recommended.

Telehealth can play an important role in reducing disparities in health care access. Telehealth appointments can make it easier for patients facing barriers such as travel, cost, mobility, mental health, and work or caregiver responsibilities to access the medical care they need.

Other authors of this study include: Juan P. Brito, M.D., M.S., of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.; Leslie A. Eiland, M.D., of the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb.; Rayhan A. Lal, M.D., of Stanford University in Stanford, Calif.; Spyridoula Maraka, M.D., M.S., of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Ark., VA Central Arkansas Healthcare System, Little Rock, Ark., and the Mayo Clinic; Marie E. McDonnell, M.D., of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Mass., and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass.; Radhika Narla, M.D., of the University of Washington in Seattle, Wash., and VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, Wash.; Mara Y. Roth, M.D., of the University of Washington; and Stephanie S. Crossen, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of California Davis School of Medicine in Sacramento, Calif.

The manuscript, “Appropriate Use of Telehealth Visits in Endocrinology: Perspective Statement of the Endocrine Society,” was published online, ahead of print.

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Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.
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Endocrine Society

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October 4, 2022