Disease control in young people with chronic conditions remains stable during transition to adult healthcare

Researchers at HUS and the University of Helsinki investigated changes in disease control in young people with chronic conditions who were treated or monitored at the New Children's Hospital when transferring from pediatric healthcare to specialized healthcare for adults. In addition, it was examined how disease control and the young person’s mental disorder in addition to the primary disease were associated with the quality of life and experiences of care before and after the transfer.

A total of 253 young people participated in the study. Of them, 199 responded to the survey one year and 172 two years after the transfer. The average ages of the participants were 17, 18 and 20 years. Disease control could be determined for 99 per cent of the young people before the transfer and for more than 80 per cent one and two years after the transfer. Disease control was categorized as good, moderate or poor. The psychiatric diagnoses were obtained from medical records.

“In the majority of young people, disease control remained stable during the transition period,” says Specialist Mira Kallio from HUS Children and Adolescents.

A psychiatric illness was linked to worse disease control

The study found no significant differences in young people’s health-related quality of life or the overall score for experiences of care depending on whether their chronic condition was in good, moderate or poor control. However, in young people with a psychiatric illness, disease control and the health-related quality of life were lower both before and after the transfer. The study indeed highlights a more significant role of mental wellbeing in the transition phase than previously.

“Additional research is needed to find out how the differences that were observed in this study could be reduced better by supporting adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions who also have a psychiatric illness,” says Kallio.

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