Non-Compliance with Growth Hormone Treatment in Children Is Common and Impairs Linear Growth

摘要: Background GH therapy requires daily injections over many years and compliance can be difficult to sustain. As growth hormone (GH) is expensive, non-compliance likely lead suboptimal growth, at considerable cost. Thus, we aimed assess the rate of children adolescents with GH treatment in New Zealand. Methods This was a national survey compliance, which all receiving government-funded for four-month interval were included. Compliance defined as ≥85% adherence (no more than one missed dose week on average) prescribed treatment. determined based two parameters: either number vials requested (GHreq) by family or empty returned (GHret). Data are presented mean ± SEM. Findings 177 patients study period, aged 12.1±0.6 years. The vials, but not requested, positively associated HVSDS (p<0.05), such that good had significantly greater linear period (p<0.05). GHret therefore used subsequent analyses. 66% non-compliant, this outcome affected sex, age clinical diagnosis. However, Maori ethnicity lower compliance. Interpretation An objective assessment much reliable parental patient information. Non-compliance common, reduced growth. should considered apparently response