Adherence to Growth Hormone Therapy in Children with Primary Isolated Growth Hormone Deficiency

Abstract

Background: Poor or non-adherence to growth hormone (GH) therapy is the most vital factor that could affect the growth potential of the individual. Aim: To assess the adherence and growth outcomes in growth hormone-deficient children treated with recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) via easypod™. Methods: The medical records of children with primary isolated GH deficiency and treated with r-hGH via easypod™ were retrospectively analyzed. The primary endpoint was to assess the mean rate of treatment adherence. Secondary endpoints were to study the changes in height, height standard deviation (SD) score, height velocity, and height velocity SD score after one-year of r-hGH treatment and the impact of adherence on the growth outcomes. Results: The mean age of the children included in this study was 10 years (age range: 8 to 11 years). Adherence to the r-hGH varied from 74-98% (mean 87%). Annular height velocity, the height SD score, and Insulin growth factor-1 level were 2 - 4 cm, -6.2 SD to -2.1 SD, and 22 to 218 ng/ml, respectively before initiation of the therapy, and reaches to 5 - 8 cm, -5.4 SD to -1.25 SD, and 85 to 545 ng/ml after one-year of r-hGH therapy. A good correlation between adherence and height was observed (r=0.85, p<0.01). Conclusion: We found an acceptable adherence to r-hGH treatment among children with primary isolated GH deficiency. We also found a significant relationship between drug adherence and improved growth outcomes.