Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (AGHD) and Outcomes (NordiNet and ANSWER)

Adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is a rare disease with both physiological and psychological effects for untreated patients. AGHD symptoms can improve over time with GH treatment. Here we have analyzed the long-term effectiveness and safety of short-acting GH replacement therapy (GHRT) in treatment naïve and nonnaïve patients with AGHD using real-world data from the NordiNet® International Outcome Study and American Norditropin® Studies: Web Enabled Research Program. Outcomes were compared between 3 age groups, comprised of patients aged 18 to 29 years, 30 to 39 years, and 40 to 59 years. The safety outcome was the incidence of nonserious and serious adverse reactions and serious adverse events by age group. Efficacy outcomes included mean GH exposure by age group alone, by sex and age group, or based on estrogen usage in female patients; IGF-I SD score (SDS) levels by sex and age group; mean glycated hemoglobin by sex and age group; and mean non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by sex and age group. The incidence rates of adverse events and reactions did not statistically differ between the 3 groups. Mean IGF-I SDS levels reached a normal range (-2 to 2) in ≥80% of patients from all groups in the effectiveness analysis set by year 2. Together with previous reports of older patients, these results support the real-world safety and efficacy of short-acting GHRT among all ages of patients with AGHD.