Background: Unhealthy alcohol use may lead to arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy, but its impact on sudden death is not well understood. Objective: To investigate the association of unhealthy alcohol use with sudden death. Methods: We conducted a case-control study in Wake County, a large (~1 million inhabitants), diverse county in North Carolina. We screened and adjudicated victims of sudden, unexpected, out-of-hospital deaths in adults aged 18–64 years reported by emergency medical services between 2013 and 2015. We randomly selected sex- and age-matched control patients from a university health system from the same county and time period. Characteristics of sudden death victims and controls were ascertained via standardized chart reviews. Unhealthy alcohol use was identified via chart review and was defined as any evidence of excessive alcohol use, such as it being stated in the social history or medical history, alcohol abuse being listed as a possible contributor to death, or alcohol-related diagnoses. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for the association of unhealthy alcohol use and sudden death, adjusting for age, sex, race, and other psychiatric diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders other than tobacco and alcohol. We also calculated the E-value to estimate the impact of any unmeasured confounders. Results: We identified 399 sudden death victims, of whom 374 (94%) had alcohol use data available. Among these 374 included victims, 256 (68%) were male, and 239 (62%) were White, with a median age at death of 55 years (IQR 48, 60). The demographic characteristics of the 1114 matched controls were similar to those of sudden death victims. Unhealthy alcohol use was present in 115 (31%) sudden death victims and 27 (2%) controls. In analyses adjusted for demographics only, unhealthy alcohol use was associated with a higher incidence of sudden death, with an OR of 17.5 (95% CI 11.4, 27.8). When further adjusted for other psychiatric diagnoses, the OR was 11.2 (95% CI 7.1, 18.0). The calculated E-value was 21.8, meaning an unmeasured confounder would need to be associated with both unhealthy alcohol use and sudden death by 21.8-fold to explain away the observed OR. Conclusions: Unhealthy alcohol use was strongly associated with higher sudden death risk in working-age adults. Our calculated E-value indicates it is unlikely that any unmeasured confounders alone would account for the observed association. Our findings suggest that interventions to reduce unhealthy alcohol use may be an effective strategy to prevent sudden death in working-age adults.

Treatment requests in transgender healthcare are heterogenous and not all transgender and gender-diverse individuals want to undergo the various transition-related medical interventions offered. This study aims to explore demographic and treatment-related predictors associated with different transgender care pathways in a multicenter, multinational clinical setting. In this follow-up study, 539 adult participants from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands took part and were categorized as following a ‘traditional’ care pathway (i.e., undergoing all transition-related interventions), an ‘individual’ care pathway (i.e. any course of treatment deviating from the traditional pathway), or ‘no care’ pathway (i.e. not seeking transition-related medical interventions.). We analyzed differences in demographic (e.g., gender identity) and clinical variables (e.g., treatment satisfaction), conducting logistic regression analysis and descriptive subgroup analysis. Participants with a non-binary gender were 6.7 times more likely to follow an individual care pathway, while participants with higher treatment satisfaction were less likely to follow an individual care pathway (Odds Ratio: 0.6). We identified four patterns of individual transgender care pathways, some as a function of the sex assigned at birth. The present study provides valuable insights into demographic and treatment-related predictors associated with different transgender care pathways. Healthcare providers should be aware of individual transgender care pathways and the association with (non)-binary genders to provide tailored transgender healthcare and ensure individualized, high-quality service provision.

Social determinants of health are known to influence cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Communities experiencing greater social vulnerability often face structural disadvantages that contribute to higher morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases, including CVD. However, their relationship to sudden death (SD) has not been thoroughly researched yet. The present study aims to explore the relationship between CVD risk factors, CVD outcomes, and social vulnerability in victims of sudden death. As part of the SUDDEN Project at the University of North Carolina, we screened and adjudicated 399 sudden death victims from Wake County, NC. Each victim’s address was geocoded and linked to census tract level data, including the CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, and the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) datasets. We compared our sample of SD victims against census tract data in terms of CVD, other comorbidities (e.g., DM2), and healthcare utilization. We assessed the distribution of CVD risk factors (e.g., smoking), and healthcare utilization in our sample across SVI quartiles. Chi-square tests were used to evaluate differences in demographics, risk factors, and outcomes. Overall, the 399 sudden death victims were uniformly distributed across all four SVI quartiles. However, African Americans who died suddenly were more likely to reside in high-SVI areas compared to Whites (p < 0.001). Contrary to established population-level patterns from prior studies, CVD risk factors were also uniformly distributed across SVI quartiles in our sample of SD victims. No significant differences in comorbidities were found across the SVI categories except for chronic kidney disease, which was more common in higher SVI areas, p < 0.05). However, living in an area with a higher SVI was associated with lower healthcare utilization prior to death. While overall CVD risk factors and comorbidities were largely similar across the different levels of social vulnerability, certain disparities could be found (e.g., regarding healthcare utilization). The findings suggest that structural and access-related factors may influence healthcare engagement prior to sudden death, even when traditional CVD risk profiles appear similar. Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between social vulnerability, healthcare access, and sudden death to determine how tailored interventions can reduce these disparities.

Background: Environmental contributors to sudden death are not well understood but should inform emergency preparedness and mitigation strategies. We examined flood and pollution risk and sudden death from 2018 to 2021 in Lenoir, a rural North Carolina County which suffered extensive damage from recent hurricanes, most notably Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Research Aim: Determine if census tracts with greater flood or pollution risk have higher sudden death rates. Methods: We identified sudden deaths among adults aged 18-64 from death certificates using a published algorithm (Figure 1). We geocoded decedents’ addresses and linked them to census tract-level data from the EPA Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool and American Community Survey. Flood risk was defined as the percentage of census tract residents at high (>25%) flood risk over the next 30 years, and pollution risk as the percentage of residents ≤1 mile from a Toxic Release Inventory site. We compared census tract-level sudden death rates by flood and pollution risk levels using incidence rate ratios (IRRs) estimated with Poisson regression, adjusted for racial distribution, median household income, and prevalence of coronary heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Results: Among the 15 census tracts in the county, the median flood risk was 10% (range 4 to 16), and the median pollution risk was 8.4% (range 0 to 56.54). Of the 15 tracts, 2 were in the highest tertile for both flood and pollution risk. There were 242 sudden deaths in Lenoir County during the study period, a rate of 437 per 100,000. Tract-level sudden death rates ranged from 246 to 1,130 per 100,000 (Figure 2). Every increase of 10 percentage points in flood risk was associated with a 92% increase in sudden death rates (IRR 1.92, 95 % CI 1.40–2.64). Every 10-point increase in pollution risk was associated with a 14% increase in sudden death (IRR 1.14, 95 % CI 1.04–1.23) (Table 1). Being in the highest risk tertiles for both flood and pollution was associated with higher sudden death rates compared to being in the lowest tertiles for both (IRR 2.02, 95% CI 1.50-2.66). Conclusions: Flood and industrial pollution risk were associated with higher sudden death rates within a rural county, even after accounting for socioeconomic and cardiometabolic burden. Locally-targeted environmental hazard preparedness and mitigation should be evaluated to prevent sudden deaths in vulnerable communities.

Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) have unique risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). A higher likelihood of tobacco use, inadequate exercise, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity have been found, driven by increased psychosocial stressors across the lifespan. Specific treatments, especially gender-affirming hormone therapy, can also increase the CVD risk. Even though SGM-related issues have been introduced into medical education, students’ expertise regarding cardiovascular care for SGM populations has not been studied. The present study examines the clinical preparedness, attitudes, and basic knowledge of medical students regarding cardiovascular care for SGM populations. Medical students from Germany were recruited to take part in an online survey. Additionally, medical students from the UK and the USA will be recruited in the future. We used a variety of channels for recruitment (e.g., mailing lists of student councils, social medical groups). The LGBT-DOCSS was used to assess SGM-related clinical competency. Based on prior work of our research group, we developed items to assess the knowledge of SGM-related cardiovascular care and educational needs. We calculated descriptive statistics to describe the outcomes of interest. Currently, 217 medical students (20% final-year) from 5 German medical schools participated in the study. Regarding general SGM-related clinical competency, participants scored below average on clinical preparedness (3.4/7.0), above average on basic knowledge about SGM-specific healthcare (5.1/7.0), and low on explicit bias and prejudice towards SGM individuals (6.4/7.0). 84 % of the participants reported not feeling appropriately prepared to deliver cardiovascular care for SGM populations. Most participants (72 %) only knew about one or two SGM-specific CVD risk factors. There was a high interest in learning about cardiovascular care for SGM populations (96%) and a preference to implement the issue in medical school curricula (93%). Additional data from Germany, the USA, and the UK will be presented at the time of the conference presentation. The present study provides insights into the clinical preparedness of medical students regarding cardiovascular care for SGM populations. Despite showing a high interest in learning about SGM-specific cardiovascular care, most medical students feel underprepared on the issue. Implementing SGM-specific cardiovascular health into medical school curricula could close this gap.

PurposePrevious research on genital gender-affirming surgery lacked to build a framework that took various surrounding factors into account. E.g., transgender health care services are delivered in both centralized (by one interdisciplinary institution) and decentralized settings (by different medical institutions spread over several locations). The present study investigated the effects of different structural and clinical aspects of gender-affirming genital surgery on psychosocial outcomes.MethodsWe surveyed former transgender and gender-diverse people who completed a vaginoplasty between 2014 and 2018. 45 participants were included in the study. We calculated hierarchical linear regression analyses to assess the relationship between psychosocial outcome measures (gender congruence, mental health, quality of life) and different aspects of gender-affirming genital surgery (e.g., setting of service delivery). To address shortcomings regarding the small sample size, we applied a rigorous statistical approach (e.g., Bonferroni correction) to ensure that we only identify predictors that are actually related to the outcomes.ResultsA non-responder analysis revealed no systematic bias in the recruitment procedure. Treatment satisfaction was a significant predictor for gender congruence. Moreover, we found the setting of service delivery (centralized, decentralized) to predict psychological health and the physical health dimension of quality of life. The effect sizes of our models were moderate to high, and models explained up to 26% of the total variance with a power up to 0.83.ConclusionThe present study is an exploratory attempt into the manifold relationships between treatment-related factors (e.g., aesthetic outcome), the setting of service delivery, and their effects on gender-affirming genital surgery.

Introduction: Transgender health care interventions (e.g., gender-affirming surgery) support transgender and gender-diverse people to transition to their gender and are delivered in both centralized (by one interdisciplinary institution) and decentralized settings (by different institutions spread over several locations). In this exploratory study, we investigated the relationship between centralized and decentralized delivery of transgender health care, client-centeredness, and psychosocial outcomes. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 45 clients undergoing vaginoplasty at one medical center was conducted. Mann-Whitney U tests assessed differences regarding five dimensions of client-centeredness and psychosocial outcomes between the health care delivery groups. To address shortcomings regarding the small sample size, we applied a rigorous statistical approach (e.g., Bonferroni correction) to ensure that we only identified predictors that were actually related to the outcomes. Results: All aspects of client-centered care were scored average or high. Decentralized delivery of care was more client-centered in terms of involvement in care/shared decision-making and empowerment. However, participants from decentralized health care delivery settings scored lower on psychosocial health (p = 0.038-0.005). Conclusions: The factor of (de-)centralized health care delivery appears to have a significant impact on the provision of transgender health care and should be investigated by future research.

Background Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, access to medical care is restricted for nearly all non-acute conditions. Due to their status as a vulnerable social group and the inherent need for transition-related treatments, transgender people are assumed to be affected particularly severely by the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods As an ad hoc collaboration between researchers, clinicians and 23 community organizations, we developed a web-based survey in German that was translated into 26 languages. Participants were recruited via community sources, social media channels, and snowball sampling since May 2020. The present sample is based on the data collected until August 9, 2020. We assessed demographical data, health problems, risk factors, COVID-19 data (e.g., contact history), and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to transgender health care services. To identify factors associated with the experience of restrictions, we conducted multiple logistic regression analysis. Results 5267 transgender people from 63 upper-middle-income and high-income countries participated in the study. Over 50% of the participants had risk factors for a severe course of a COVID-19 infection and were at a high risk of avoiding COVID-19 treatment due to the fear of mistreatment or discrimination. Access to transgender health care services was restricted for 50% of the participants. Male sex assigned at birth and a lower monthly income were significant predictors for the experience of restrictions to health care. 35.0% reported at least one mental health condition and 3.2% have attempted suicide since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussion Transgender people suffer under the severity of the pandemic due to the intersections between their status as a vulnerable social group, their high number of medical risk factors, and their need for ongoing medical treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic can potentiate these vulnerabilities, add new challenges for transgender people, and, therefore, can lead to devastating consequences, like severe physical or mental health issues, self-harming behavior, and suicidality.

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Geschlechtsdysphorie (GD, ehemals Transsexualitat) bezeichnet einen Leidensdruck, der sich aus der Inkongruenz zwischen den korperlichen Geschlechtsmerkmalen und dem Erleben des eigenen Geschlechts ergeben kann (Geschlechtsinkongruenz: GIK). Die Gesundheitsversorgung von Personen mit GIK/GD bezieht sich v.a. auf geschlechtsangleichende Ma ss nahmen (z.B. Hormonbehandlung) und Unterstutzung bei assoziierten Bedurfnissen (z.B. durch Psychotherapie). Zudem gelten genitalchirurgische Eingriffe als effektive Verfahren zur Reduktion von GIK/GD und zur Verbesserung der psychischen Gesundheit und Lebensqualitat. Als evidenzbasiert gilt eine integrative Gesundheitsversorgung, bei der die beteiligten Bereiche interdisziplinar kooperieren. Ziel der Studie Bei der medizinischen Versorgung von Patient_innen mit GIK/GD lassen sich grundsatzlich zwei Settings unterscheiden: interdisziplinar integriert an einem Standort vs. dezentral verteilt uber mehrere Standorte. Die Trans-Gesundheitsversorgung in Deutschland ist bisher weitgehend dezentral organisiert. Wie sich das Versorgungssetting auf die Wirksamkeit und Qualitat genitalangleichender Operationen auswirkt, wurde bisher nicht untersucht. Ziel der TransCare-Studie ist es daher, prospektiv katamnestisch das psychosoziale und klinische Outcome von Patient_innen mit GIK/GD zu untersuchen, die eine feminisierende Genitaloperation in Anspruch nehmen, und auf die moglichen Auswirkungen des Versorgungssettings (interdisziplinar integriert vs. dezentral verteilt) hin zu vergleichen. Methodik Im Zuge eines naturalistischen Langsschnittdesigns soll eine moglichst praxisnahe Stichprobe rekrutiert und die teilnehmenden Patient_innen prospektiv befragt werden. Ergebnisse Die Studienergebnisse sollen Erkenntnisse uber die Rolle des Versorgungssettings im Rahmen der genitalchirurgischen Behandlung von Patient_innen mit GIK/GD hervorbringen. Schlussfolgerung Auf Basis der TransCare-Studie soll die Versorgungsqualitat empirisch fundiert verbessert werden. Abstract Background Gender Dysphoria (GD, formerly known as transsexualism) describes distress and impairment in an individual caused by the incongruence between the experienced gender and the sex assigned at birth (Gender Incongruence: GI). Transgender health care focusses on gender-affirmative treatments (e.g., hormone therapy) and associated needs (e.g., psychotherapy). Moreover, genital surgery is considered an effective treatment to reduce GI/GD and improve mental health and quality of life. Interdisciplinary cooperation between the associated medical facilities is regarded as evidence-based health care. Objectives To date, THC is delivered in zwei different health care settings: interdisciplinary and centralized from one medical institution vs. decentralized, spread over several medical institutions. In Germany, individuals with GI/GD access health care mostly in decentralized structures. The consequences of feminizing genital surgery carried out in centralized and decentralized health care structures in terms of quality and effectiveness have not been investigated so far. The goal of the TransCare study is to prospectively examine individuals with GI/GD seeking feminizing genital surgery regarding demographics and clinical characteristics as well as to analyze the influence of centralized and decentralized health care settings on the psychosocial and clinical outcome. Materials and methods To recruit a valid and comprehensive sample, participants were questioned prospectively. Results The results of the study should help gain new insights into the influence of centralized and decentralized health care settings carrying out feminizing genital surgery on psychosocial and clinical outcomes for the patients. Conclusion Based on the TransCare study, we suggest that health care should be improved according to individual patient needs.

Introduction Transgender health care is delivered in both centralized (by one interdisciplinary institution) and decentralized settings (by different medical institutions spread over several locations). However, the health care delivery setting has not gained attention in research so far. Based on a systematic review and a global expert survey, we aim to investigate its role in transgender health care quality. Methods We performed two studies. In 2019, we systematically reviewed the literature published in databases (Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science) from January 2000 to April 2019. Secondly, we conducted a cross-sectional global expert survey. To complete the evidence on the question of (de-)centralized delivery of transgender health care, we performed a grey literature search for additional information than the systematic review and the expert survey revealed. These analyses were conducted in 2020. Results Eleven articles met the inclusion criteria of the systematic review. 125 participants from 39 countries took part in the expert survey. With insights from the grey literature search, we found transgender health care in Europe was primarily delivered centralized. In most other countries, both centralized and decentralized delivery structures were present. Comprehensive care with medical standards and individual access to care were central topics associated with the different health care delivery settings. Discussion The setting in which transgender health care is delivered differs between countries and health systems and could influence different aspects of transgender health care quality. Consequently, it should gain significant attention in clinical practice and future health care research.

Zusammenfassung Einleitung und Ziel Seit dem Frühjahr 2020 hat die COVID‑19-Pandemie nahezu alle Bereiche des gesellschaftlichen Lebens erheblich eingeschränkt, was bei vielen Menschen sowohl zu psychischen als auch zu körperlichen Belastungen geführt hat. In diesem Artikel nehmen wir die Situation von trans Personen in den Blick, die infolge ihrer gesellschaftlichen Diskriminierung und Marginalisierung sowie spezifischer, gesundheitsbezogener Anliegen durch eine besondere Vulnerabilität gekennzeichnet sein können. Methoden Unter Beachtung partizipativer Elemente haben wir mit einer Online-Querschnitterhebung im Zeitraum vom 01.05.2020 bis zum 31.01.2021 die psychische und physische Gesundheit von trans Personen im deutschsprachigen Raum sowie deren Zugang zur Trans-Gesundheitsversorgung während der COVID‑19-Pandemie untersucht. Ergebnisse Trans Personen erleben seit Beginn der COVID‑19-Pandemie vermehrt Barrieren sowohl bei geschlechtsangleichenden Behandlungen und psychosozialen Unterstützungsangeboten als auch im Bereich der COVID‑19-bezogenen medizinischen Versorgung. Im Vergleich zur Gesamtbevölkerung berichten sie übermäßig häufig von somatischen Erkrankungen, auch von solchen, die ein erhöhtes Risiko für schwere Verläufe einer COVID‑19-Infektion darstellen. Außerdem berichten die Teilnehmenden verschiedene Faktoren, die ein Risiko für eine erhöhte psychische Belastung darstellen können (z. B. Zugehörigkeit zu einer Minderheit aufgrund nicht-heterosexueller Orientierung, niedriges Einkommen). Diskussion Die Ergebnisse unserer Untersuchung weisen darauf hin, dass bisherige Vulnerabilitäten für gesundheitliche Probleme und der eingeschränkte Zugang zu einer qualifiziert informierten Trans-Gesundheitsversorgung durch die Folgen der COVID‑19-Pandemie verschärft wurden.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:Since spring of 2020, the COVID‑19 pandemic has disrupted our day-to-day lives and led to negative consequences in various areas of life, including mental and physical wellbeing. In this article, we take a closer look at the situation of trans people, who - due to experiences with discrimination and marginalization as well as their specific health-related interests - could be characterized by a particular vulnerability. METHODS:Using an online cross-sectional survey, which we designed collaboratively with experts from the trans community, we investigated the mental and physical health of trans people from German-speaking countries and their access to trans-related healthcare during the COVID‑19 pandemic in the period from 1 May 2020 to 31 January 2021. RESULTS:Since the beginning of the COVID‑19 pandemic, trans people have experienced barriers in access to gender-affirming treatments, mental health services, and COVID‑19-related medical care. At the same time, trans people reported being affected by chronic diseases disproportionately more often than the general population, including those leading to a higher risk for poorer outcomes of a COVID‑19 infection. Moreover, the participants reported being exposed to many risk factors associated with higher mental distress (e.g., having a chronic illness, belonging to a minority based on a non-heterosexual orientation, or having a low income). DISCUSSION:The results of this survey indicate that prior vulnerabilities with regards to health problems and the restricted access to an informed and qualified transgender healthcare were exacerbated by the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Background Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to medical care was restricted for nearly all non-acute medical conditions. Due to their status as a vulnerable social group and the inherent need for transition-related treatments (e.g., hormone treatment), transgender people are assumed to be affected particularly severely by the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and health care of transgender people. Methods and findings As an ad hoc collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and 23 community organizations, we developed a web-based survey. The survey was translated into 26 languages, and participants were recruited via various social media and LGBTIQ-community sources. Recruitment started in May 2020. We assessed demographical data, physical and mental health problems (e.g., chronic physical conditions), risk factors (e.g., smoking), COVID-19 data (symptoms, contact history, knowledge and concerns about COVID-19), and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to transgender health care and health-related supplies. To identify factors associated with the experience of restrictions to transgender health care, we conducted multivariate logistic regression analysis. 5267 transgender people from 63 higher-middle income and high-income countries participated in the study. Over 50% of the participants had risk factors for a severe course of a COVID-19 infection and were at a high risk of avoiding testing or treatment of a COVID-19 infection due to the fear of mistreatment or discrimination. Access to transgender health care services was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic for 50% of the participants. Male sex assigned at birth and a lower monthly income were significant predictors for the experience of restrictions to health care. 35.0% of the participants reported at least one mental health conditions. Every third participant had suicidal thoughts, and 3.2% have attempted suicide since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. A limitation of the study is that we did not analyze data from low-income countries and access to the internet was necessary to participate. Conclusions Transgender people are assumed to suffer under the severity of the pandemic even more than the general population due to the intersections between their status as a vulnerable social group, their high amount of medical risk factors, and their need for ongoing medical treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic can potentiate these vulnerabilities, add new challenges for transgender individuals, and, therefore, can lead to devastating consequences, like severe physical or mental health issues, self-harming behaviour, and suicidality.

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Geschlechtsdysphorie (GD, ehemals Transsexualität) bezeichnet einen Leidensdruck, der sich aus der Inkongruenz zwischen den körperlichen Geschlechtsmerkmalen und dem Erleben des eigenen Geschlechts ergeben kann (Geschlechtsinkongruenz: GIK). Die Gesundheitsversorgung von Personen mit GIK/GD bezieht sich v. a. auf geschlechtsangleichende Maßnahmen (z. B. Hormonbehandlung) und Unterstützung bei assoziierten Bedürfnissen (z. B. durch Psychotherapie). Zudem gelten genitalchirurgische Eingriffe als effektive Verfahren zur Reduktion von GIK/GD und zur Verbesserung der psychischen Gesundheit und Lebensqualität. Als evidenzbasiert gilt eine integrative Gesundheitsversorgung, bei der die beteiligten Bereiche interdisziplinär kooperieren. Ziel der Studie Bei der medizinischen Versorgung von Patient_innen mit GIK/GD lassen sich grundsätzlich zwei Settings unterscheiden: interdisziplinär integriert an einem Standort vs. dezentral verteilt über mehrere Standorte. Die Trans-Gesundheitsversorgung in Deutschland ist bisher weitgehend dezentral organisiert. Wie sich das Versorgungssetting auf die Wirksamkeit und Qualität genitalangleichender Operationen auswirkt, wurde bisher nicht untersucht. Ziel der TransCare-Studie ist es daher, prospektiv katamnestisch das psychosoziale und klinische Outcome von Patient_innen mit GIK/GD zu untersuchen, die eine feminisierende Genitaloperation in Anspruch nehmen, und auf die möglichen Auswirkungen des Versorgungssettings (interdisziplinär integriert vs. dezentral verteilt) hin zu vergleichen. Methodik Im Zuge eines naturalistischen Längsschnittdesigns soll eine möglichst praxisnahe Stichprobe rekrutiert und die teilnehmenden Patient_innen prospektiv befragt werden. Ergebnisse Die Studienergebnisse sollen Erkenntnisse über die Rolle des Versorgungssettings im Rahmen der genitalchirurgischen Behandlung von Patient_innen mit GIK/GD hervorbringen. Schlussfolgerung Auf Basis der TransCare-Studie soll die Versorgungsqualität empirisch fundiert verbessert werden.