Observations of nonadherence to recombinant human growth hormone therapy in clinical practice

The effectiveness of all prescribed treatments is contingent on patient adherence. The reported levels of adherence to recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) therapy are highly variable, but it has been suggested that nonadherence might be as high as 36% to 49%.

This commentary discusses the factors that affect long-term adherence to injection treatment, of which r-hGH therapy is a particular challenge. It also explores potential strategies to improve adherence to injection treatments in clinical practice.

The opinion of the authors was validated and supported by published literature. A PubMed literature search was conducted in November 2006, identifying English-language articles containing key terms growth hormone, adherence, and compliance.

This study found that factors associated with poor adherence to injection treatments include patients' lack of understanding of their disease, patient age, chronicity of the disease, complex treatment regimens, and insufficient information on the implications of nonadherence. Strengthening the patient-physician relationship by providing the patient with a clear understanding of his/her disease and the benefits of adherence, making improvements in injection devices, and eliminating subjective illness concepts, might increase adherence to SC injection treatments, thereby reducing increasing health care costs associated with nonadherence.

Poor adherence to r-hGH therapy has a dual effect, in that it leads to reduced efficacy out-comes and increased health care costs. Implementing strategies to improve adherence with injection treatment might be of particular clinical benefit to patients undergoing r-hGH therapy.