Two-Year Follow-Up Study of Health-Related Quality of Life Among Transgender and Gender Expansive Youth Receiving Gender-Affirming Care

Abstract

Purpose: To examine changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL), this 2-year follow-up study reassessed the HRQOL of transgender and gender expansive (TG/GE) young people enrolled in a patient registry at the Gender Wellness Center (GWC) in upstate New York. Methods: Registry patients had to have a gender-affirming care follow-up visit at the GWC within a 2 year window (+6 months) of their baseline survey to complete follow-up. Youth <18 years of age completed the Child Health Questionnaire-Child Form 87 (CHQ-CF87); youth >18 years of age completed the Short Form-36v2 (SF-36v2). We analyzed change from baseline to follow-up for 11 CHQ-CF87 subscales and 8 SF-36v2 subscales. We compared follow-up HRQOL results to U.S. population standards. We abstracted receipt of gender-affirming care from GWC electronic medical records. Results: Among the 173 patients who completed HRQOL assessments at baseline, 108 completed follow-up (62% response rate) from May 2019 to March 2022. The mean age for those completing the CHQ-CF87 was 14.6±2.2 years (range 10–17) and for the SF-36v2 was 19.7±2.3 years (range 18–24). CHQ-CF87 Behavior and Role/Social Physical Functioning subscale scores improved significantly among youth 8–17 years of age from baseline. Follow-up SF-36v2 scores for patients 18–24 years of age did not change significantly. Follow-up HRQOL mental health scores remained statistically significantly lower than U.S. population standards for both age groups. Conclusions: Two year follow-up HRQOL data from TG/GE youth receiving gender-affirming care improved in two domains, but did not change among young adults (>18 years of age). Mental health remains suboptimal compared to national standards.