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. 2021 Aug 20:9:711979.
doi: 10.3389/fped.2021.711979. eCollection 2021.

Real-World Treatment Patterns and Outcomes of Growth Hormone Treatment Among Children in Israel Over the Past Decade (2004-2015)

Tal Ben-Ari  1   2   3 , Gabriel Chodick  1 , Varda Shalev  1 , Dalit Goldstein  1 , Roy Gomez  4 , Zohar Landau  1   5   6
Affiliations

Real-World Treatment Patterns and Outcomes of Growth Hormone Treatment Among Children in Israel Over the Past Decade (2004-2015)

Tal Ben-Ari et al. Front Pediatr. .

Abstract

Objective: To assess a decade of growth hormone (GH) treatment patterns and outcomes in a real-world setting in Israel using a state-of-the-art computerized database. Methods: This large retrospective database study included 2,379 children initiating GH treatment in Maccabi Healthcare Services (between January 2004 and December 2014). Good adherence with therapy (proportion of days covered >80%) was assessed during follow-up. Results: At GH treatment initiation: 62.1% were boys; height standard deviation score (SDS) was -2.36 ± 0.65 (mean ± SD); age was 9.8 ± 3.1 years; and time from short stature diagnosis to first GH purchase was 4.8 ± 3.3 years. Mean treatment period was 3.5 ± 0.95 years; 79.4% of children were treated for more than 3 years. The two main indications for GH therapy were idiopathic short stature (ISS) (n = 1,615, 67.9%) and GH deficiency (GHD) (n = 611, 25.7%). Children in the highest socio-economic-status (SES) tertile comprised 61.3% of ISS and 59.7% of GHD. After 3 years, mean height gain SDS was 1.09 ± 0.91 for GHD and 0.96 ± 0.57 for ISS (p = 0.0004). Adult height (age 15 for girls and 17 for boys) was recorded for 624 patients (26.2%) with better outcomes for GHD than ISS (-1.0±0.82 vs. -1.28±0.93, respectively; p = 0.0002). Good adherence was achieved in 78.2% of the cohort during the first year and declined thereafter to 68.1% during the third year of the treatment. Conclusions: Children who initiate GH therapy are predominantly male, belong mainly to the upper SES, commence treatment a long period after initial recognition of short stature, and have suboptimal adherence. Appropriate referral, diagnosis, and follow-up care may result in better treatment outcomes with GH therapy.

Keywords: children; growth; growth hormone; growth hormone deficiency; height; idiopathic short stature.

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Conflict of interest statement

RG is an employee and/or stockholder of Pfizer. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The authors declare that this study received funding from Pfizer. The funder was involved in study design and preparation of the manuscript for publication. Editorial/medical writing support was provided by Sharmy Blows, PhD, of Engage Scientific Solutions and was funded by Pfizer.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study flow diagram. GH, growth hormone.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age at initiation of growth hormone treatment. ISS, idiopathic short stature; GH, growth hormone; GHD, growth hormone deficiency.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Changes in height standard deviation score. ISS, idiopathic short stature; GH, growth hormone; GHD, growth hormone deficiency, SD, standard deviation; SDS, standard deviation score.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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