The Hydrocephalus Association Patient-Powered Interactive Engagement Registry (HAPPIER): Design and Initial Baseline Report.

Abstract

Purpose: Hydrocephalus is a neurological condition characterized by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with no cure and limited treatments. There is a significant gap in hydrocephalus research where patients lack opportunities to voice their perspectives on their condition. The Hydrocephalus Association Patient-Powered Interactive Engagement Registry (HAPPIER) database captures the lived experiences of those affected by hydrocephalus and provides a platform for researchers to access these data or distribute their own surveys, ultimately aiming to improve patient-centered care and outcomes. This publication introduces the registry by highlighting the demographics, etiology, treatments, symptom profiles, and diagnosed comorbidities of the participants.

Methods: The Hydrocephalus Association and a 10-member steering committee developed HAPPIER. Other patient registries, existing surveys and assessments, and University of Utah Data Center faculty guided survey development. The Hydrocephalus Association recruited participants using social and traditional media, medical referrals, and advertisements at events.

Results: Of the 691 survey participants with hydrocephalus, 451 (65.3%) responded for themselves. The majority of the registry was female (55.0%), white (86.0%), and from the United States and territories (87.7%). Most were diagnosed between 0-11 months (46.2%), with congenital hydrocephalus as the most reported etiology (43.8%). Participants reported a shunt(s) as the most prevalent treatment (71.2%) and headaches as the most frequent symptom (60.3%), while 69.9% of participants reported being diagnosed with movement impairments and 70.8% with other health conditions.

Conclusion: HAPPIER is a novel database that addresses gaps in data on non-clinical outcomes of hydrocephalus, which are critical to clinical care and understanding hydrocephalus. Patient perspectives and outcomes remain historically underrepresented. By directly engaging individuals living with hydrocephalus and their caregivers, HAPPIER incorporates essential patient perspectives through planned longitudinal data collection and patient surveys. These data are open to investigators interested in analyzing the collected data.