Long-Term GH therapy: epidemiology and auxologic outcome

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Auxology
• Public Health

Background:

• Growth hormone (GH) therapy is used for childhood growth disorders.
• Understanding treatment patterns and outcomes is crucial for optimizing patient care.
• A national registry in Catalonia provided data on GH treatment from 1988-1997.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the epidemiologic and auxologic characteristics of patients receiving GH treatment.
• To analyze factors influencing treatment cessation and outcomes.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of GH therapy based on patient subgroups and growth response.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of treatments terminated in 1993 (n=548) from a national registry.
• Categorization of treatment cessation by reasons: 'near-final height', 'adequate height', and 'poor growth response'.
• Statistical analysis including correlation and multiple regression to assess factors influencing height standard deviation score (SDS) increment.

Main Results:

• Males initiated and concluded GH therapy at older ages with better auxologic status (SDS) than females in certain subgroups.
• Severe GH deficiency (GHD) was more common in patients stopping treatment at 'near-final height'.
• Height SDS increment was significantly influenced by initial height SDS and target height SDS in the 'near-final height' group.

Conclusions:

• GH treatment appears to be utilized reasonably, with therapy continuing for good responders and suspending for doubtful cases.
• Treatment outcomes varied by sex and the underlying cause of short stature.
• Predictive factors for height gain were identified, aiding in treatment management.