Long-Term Follow-Up of Individuals Undergoing Sex-Reassignment Surgery: Somatic Morbidity and Cause of Death

Introduction: Studies of mortality and somatic well-being after sex-reassignment surgery (SRS) of transsexual individuals are equivocal. Accordingly, the present study investigated mortality and somatic morbidity using a sample of transsexual individuals who comprised 98% (n = 104) of all surgically...

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Main Authors: Rikke Kildevæld Simonsen, MA, Gert Martin Hald, PhD, Ellids Kristensen, MD, FECSM, Annamaria Giraldi, PhD, MD, FECSM
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press 2016-03-01
Series:Sexual Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S205011611600009X
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author Rikke Kildevæld Simonsen, MA
Gert Martin Hald, PhD
Ellids Kristensen, MD, FECSM
Annamaria Giraldi, PhD, MD, FECSM
author_facet Rikke Kildevæld Simonsen, MA
Gert Martin Hald, PhD
Ellids Kristensen, MD, FECSM
Annamaria Giraldi, PhD, MD, FECSM
author_sort Rikke Kildevæld Simonsen, MA
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Studies of mortality and somatic well-being after sex-reassignment surgery (SRS) of transsexual individuals are equivocal. Accordingly, the present study investigated mortality and somatic morbidity using a sample of transsexual individuals who comprised 98% (n = 104) of all surgically reassigned transsexual individuals in Denmark. Aims: To investigate somatic morbidity before and after SRS and cause of death and its relation to somatic morbidity after SRS in Danish individuals who underwent SRS from 1978 through 2010. Methods: Somatic morbidity and mortality in 104 sex-reassigned individuals were identified retrospectively by data from the Danish National Health Register and the Cause of Death Register. Main Outcome Measures: Somatic morbidity and cause of death. Results: Overall, 19.2% of the sample were registered with somatic morbidity before SRS and 23.1% after SRS (P = not significant). In total, 8.6% had somatic morbidity before and after SRS. The most common diagnostic category was cardiovascular disease, affecting 18 individuals, 9 before and 14 after SRS, and 5 of those 14 who were affected after SRS had cardiovascular disease before and after SRS. Ten individuals died after SRS at an average age of 53.5 ± 7.9 years (male to female) and 53.5 ± 7.3 years (female to male). Conclusion: Of 98% of all Danish transsexuals who officially underwent SRS from 1978 through 2010, one in three had somatic morbidity and approximately 1 in 10 had died. No significant differences in somatic morbidity or mortality were found between male-to-female and female-to-male individuals. Despite the young average age at death and the relatively larger number of individuals with somatic morbidity, the present study design does not allow for determination of casual relations between, for example, specific types of hormonal or surgical treatment received and somatic morbidity and mortality.
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spelling doaj.art-7d3ee470fe5f481392ce8467c43dde6b2023-09-02T11:52:11ZengOxford University PressSexual Medicine2050-11612016-03-0141e60e6810.1016/j.esxm.2016.01.001Long-Term Follow-Up of Individuals Undergoing Sex-Reassignment Surgery: Somatic Morbidity and Cause of DeathRikke Kildevæld Simonsen, MA0Gert Martin Hald, PhD1Ellids Kristensen, MD, FECSM2Annamaria Giraldi, PhD, MD, FECSM3Department of Sexology, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkSexological Clinic, Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkSexological Clinic, Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkIntroduction: Studies of mortality and somatic well-being after sex-reassignment surgery (SRS) of transsexual individuals are equivocal. Accordingly, the present study investigated mortality and somatic morbidity using a sample of transsexual individuals who comprised 98% (n = 104) of all surgically reassigned transsexual individuals in Denmark. Aims: To investigate somatic morbidity before and after SRS and cause of death and its relation to somatic morbidity after SRS in Danish individuals who underwent SRS from 1978 through 2010. Methods: Somatic morbidity and mortality in 104 sex-reassigned individuals were identified retrospectively by data from the Danish National Health Register and the Cause of Death Register. Main Outcome Measures: Somatic morbidity and cause of death. Results: Overall, 19.2% of the sample were registered with somatic morbidity before SRS and 23.1% after SRS (P = not significant). In total, 8.6% had somatic morbidity before and after SRS. The most common diagnostic category was cardiovascular disease, affecting 18 individuals, 9 before and 14 after SRS, and 5 of those 14 who were affected after SRS had cardiovascular disease before and after SRS. Ten individuals died after SRS at an average age of 53.5 ± 7.9 years (male to female) and 53.5 ± 7.3 years (female to male). Conclusion: Of 98% of all Danish transsexuals who officially underwent SRS from 1978 through 2010, one in three had somatic morbidity and approximately 1 in 10 had died. No significant differences in somatic morbidity or mortality were found between male-to-female and female-to-male individuals. Despite the young average age at death and the relatively larger number of individuals with somatic morbidity, the present study design does not allow for determination of casual relations between, for example, specific types of hormonal or surgical treatment received and somatic morbidity and mortality.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S205011611600009XFollow-UpGender Identity DisorderSomatic MorbiditySex-Reassignment SurgeryTranssexualism
spellingShingle Rikke Kildevæld Simonsen, MA
Gert Martin Hald, PhD
Ellids Kristensen, MD, FECSM
Annamaria Giraldi, PhD, MD, FECSM
Long-Term Follow-Up of Individuals Undergoing Sex-Reassignment Surgery: Somatic Morbidity and Cause of Death
Sexual Medicine
Follow-Up
Gender Identity Disorder
Somatic Morbidity
Sex-Reassignment Surgery
Transsexualism
title Long-Term Follow-Up of Individuals Undergoing Sex-Reassignment Surgery: Somatic Morbidity and Cause of Death
title_full Long-Term Follow-Up of Individuals Undergoing Sex-Reassignment Surgery: Somatic Morbidity and Cause of Death
title_fullStr Long-Term Follow-Up of Individuals Undergoing Sex-Reassignment Surgery: Somatic Morbidity and Cause of Death
title_full_unstemmed Long-Term Follow-Up of Individuals Undergoing Sex-Reassignment Surgery: Somatic Morbidity and Cause of Death
title_short Long-Term Follow-Up of Individuals Undergoing Sex-Reassignment Surgery: Somatic Morbidity and Cause of Death
title_sort long term follow up of individuals undergoing sex reassignment surgery somatic morbidity and cause of death
topic Follow-Up
Gender Identity Disorder
Somatic Morbidity
Sex-Reassignment Surgery
Transsexualism
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S205011611600009X
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