Complications in Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency-A Survey Study in Japan-

Abstract

It has been reported that adult patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) have increased risk factors for cardiovascular disorders in Western countries. However, data on this issue in Japan have not been fully investigated. To clarify the situation on this issue in Japan, a nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted by Study Group of Hypothalamo-Pituitary Disease, and medical records of 863 adult patients were recruited. The incidences of complications and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases were compared between GH deficient patients (GHD, n = 494) and GH intact patients (GHI, n = 369). The incidence of myocardial infarction was higher in GHD (1.2%) than in GHI (0.8%), but not significantly. The incidences of angina pectoris and liver dysfunction were significantly higher in GHD than in GHI (2.8 vs 0.8%, p = 0.048, and 11.9 vs 5.5%, p<0.0001, respectively). The prevalences of obesity and hyperlipidemia (HL) were significantly higher in GHD (p = 0.004, p<0.001, respectively). Combinations of HL plus diabetes mellitus (DM) or hypertension (HT) were more common in GHD than in GHI (HL + DM; 7.2 vs. 2.9%, HL + HT; 10.9 vs. 2.9%). These results indicated that GH deficiency have an increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in Japanese similar to Western countries, and suggested that GH supplement therapy may be needed to reduce those complications.