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Updated: Jul 1, 2025
Comparative Analysis of Human Growth Hormone in Serum Using SPRi, Nano-SPRi and ELISA Assays
Published on: January 7, 2016
Medical Costs Associated with High/Moderate/Low Likelihood of Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency: A Healthcare Claims
Kevin C J Yuen1, Lewis S Blevins2, David R Clemmons3
1Barrow Pituitary Center, Barrow Neurological Institute and St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, University of Arizona College of Medicine and Creighton School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Purpose:
Adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is often underdiagnosed and undertreated, leading to costly comorbidities. Previously, we developed an algorithm to identify individuals in a commercially insured US population with high, moderate, or low likelihood of having AGHD. Here, we estimate and compare direct medical costs by likelihood level.
Patients And Methods:
Retrospective, observational analysis using the Truven Health MarketScan database to analyze direct medical costs relating to inpatient and outpatient claims, outpatient prescription claims, medication usage, clinical utilization records, and healthcare expenditures. Patients were categorized into groups based on algorithmically determined likelihoods of AGHD. Likelihood groups were further stratified by age and sex. Trajectories of annual costs (USD) by likelihood level were also investigated.
Results:
The study cohort comprised 135 million US adults (aged ≥18 years). Individuals ranked as high-likelihood AGHD had a greater burden of comorbid illness, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, than those ranked moderate- or low-likelihood. Those in the high-likelihood group had greater mean total direct medical monthly costs ($1844.51 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1841.24;1847.78]) than those in the moderate- ($945.65 [95% CI: 945.26;946.04]) and low-likelihood groups ($459.10 [95% CI: 458.95;459.25]). Outpatient visits accounted for the majority of costs overall, although cost per visit was substantially lower than for inpatient services. Costs tended to increase with age and peaked around the time that individuals were assigned a level of AGHD likelihood. Total direct medical costs in individuals with a high likelihood of AGHD exceeded those for individuals with moderate or low likelihood.
Conclusion:
Understanding the trajectory of healthcare costs in AGHD may help rationalize allocation of healthcare resources.
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