Racial/Ethnic Disparities in US Pediatric Growth Hormone Treatment

摘要: BACKGROUND/AIMS To compare racial/ethnic proportions of subjects receiving growth hormone (GH) treatment to the expected proportions, and secondarily, assess differences in subject characteristics at GH initiation. METHODS Race/ethnicity-based frequencies height <-2.25 SD were determined by applying relative risks for short stature, calculated from a regional population 189,280 pediatric primary care patients, US census data, compared enrolled Pfizer International Growth Study (KIGS) using χ2 test. Characteristics white black initiation presented as medians Wilcoxon rank sum test (significant p < 0.01). RESULTS White exceeded frequency (63%) all indications (83%) each separately, ranging 73% congenital deficiency (GHD) 85% idiopathic stature (p 0.001). Compared subjects, treated GHD had greater deficits both (-2.97 vs. -2.56 SD) their mid-parental heights (-2.47 -1.89 SD), lower stimulated peak levels (4.9 6.0 ng/mL), birth weights (-0.86 -0.48 SD). Black with peaks (2.1 3.2 ng/mL) started younger ages (2.9 4.8 years), while those acquired (-1.12 -0.08 Male predominance did not differ race any or indications. CONCLUSION Overrepresentation children among KIGS registry reflects biases, just rates.