The Impact of Long‐term Therapy by a Multidisciplinary Team on the Education, Occupation and Marital Status of Growth Hormone Deficient Patients After Termination of Therapy

Abstract

Forty-two GH deficient patients (14 isolated GH deficiency (IGHD), 28 multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies (MPHD), 23 males and 19 females) were evaluated after termination of hGH therapy and achievement of final height. IGHD patients were found to score higher in intelligence quotients (IQ) than the MPHD patients. The educational and occupational achievements of all patients positively correlated with their IQ level. Three patients achieved only elementary education, 26 completed high school and 13 had higher education. Thirty patients who had completed their education were employed, whereas 12 continued to study. Seventeen of the male patients and five females served in the Army. Eight patients were married and half of the single patients reported having a stable relationship with the opposite sex. The hypopituitary patients did not differ in five out of seven subscales of the human services rehabilitation scale when compared to a normal control group. These results which vary from those previously reported demonstrate the importance of long-term psychosocial counselling initiated at the time of diagnosis as part of the therapeutic approach in hypopituitary patients.

Isolated growth hormone (GH) deficiency in adult patients: Baseline clinical characteristics and responses to GH replacement in comparison with hypopituitary patients. A sub-analysis of the KIMS database

“…Studies have suggested that CO-MPHD patients have a lower intellectual potential than CO-IGHD patients, although it is difficult to estimate the impact of surgery, radiotherapy and structural lesions [40,41]. Employment and marriage status were similar in patients with CO-IGHD and CO-MPHD [41][42][43].…”

Mortality and socioeconomic status in adults with childhood onset GH deficiency (GHD) is highly dependent on the primary cause of GHD

“…In questionnaire and interview studies, the consequences of childhood onset GHD (CO-GHD) on socioeconomic conditions (10,11,12,13,14), psychological factors (15), and on quality of life (16) have been investigated, primarily in selected populations treated with GH. These studies compared GHD patients with controls or same sex siblings and identified an identical educational level, a reduced or identical employment degree, and a reduced number living with a partner.…”

Growth Hormone Treatment in Adults with Childhood Onset Growth Hormone Deficiency: Effects on Psychological Capabilities

“…These children experience low self-esteem, infantile social behaviour, body image disturbances and a high degree of social isolation [1][2][3][4], The poor social out come of children with GHD might be positively in fluenced by long-term psychosocial counselling started at the time of diagnosis as part of the therapeutic approach [5,6], Nevertheless, a large number of adults with GHD (in particular those who have remained 'shorter' than nor mals) frequently face a persistent disability that may nega tively affect their adult psychosocial development [7][8][9][10]. Up to now, the administration of GH has been strictly reserved for children with GHD and is discontinued once skeletal growth is complete.…”