Adherence in children with growth hormone deficiency treated with r-hGH and the easypod™ device

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Pharmacology
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Poor adherence to recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) therapy is a significant factor in reduced growth velocity in children diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD).
• Effective monitoring of patient adherence is crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes in pediatric GHD management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the adherence rates of pediatric patients with GHD undergoing r-hGH therapy using the easypod™.
• To assess the efficacy of the easypod™, an automated electronic injection device, in tracking treatment adherence over a twelve-month period.

Main Methods:

• A twelve-month observational study involving 97 prepubertal patients with GHD receiving r-hGH therapy across ten Italian clinical sites.
• Adherence was determined by analyzing data recorded by the easypod™ device, focusing on the proportion of correctly administered injections.
• Secondary endpoints included monitoring serum IGF-1 levels, fasting glucose and insulin, and anthropometric measurements (height, waist circumference, BMI).

Main Results:

• The study found that 56.7% of patients achieved full adherence (≥92%) to their r-hGH treatment throughout the twelve-month study period, as indicated by easypod™ data.
• Treatment with r-hGH demonstrated significant improvements in patient stature and a notable increase in serum IGF-1 levels.
• A non-significant trend towards increased fasting blood glucose and insulin levels was observed.

Conclusions:

• The easypod™ injection-recording system provides valuable data for physicians to monitor patient adherence to r-hGH therapy.
• The electronic tracking capabilities of the easypod™ can potentially enhance clinical management and improve treatment outcomes for children with GHD.