Adherence and Growth Outcomes in a Large Cohort of Children Treated with Recombinant GH Using a Connected Auto-Injector: accepted manuscript
article
Context. Adherence to recombinant GH treatment is crucial to achieve optimal adult height in children with growth disorders. Information on factors responsible for differences in adherence and growth in different countries is limited. Aim. Evaluate adherence and catch-up growth in children receiving GH using Easypod® auto-injectors. Methods. Retrospective cohort analysis of adherence and height, from 481 children (55% boys) in 19 centers in France, from the Growzen® Connect database, from mid-2018 to end-2023. Adherence was classified as high (≥85% of injections) or medium/low (<85%). Gain in height SD score (HSDS) was evaluated after 1 and 2 years of GH treatment. Results. High adherence was maintained throughout for 85% of patients. Among children who started young (mean age 6.3 years), 91% had high adherence over the first two years, significantly more than the 83% among those starting older (13.1 years) (P = .039). HSDS gain at 2 years, for children with GH deficiency and born small for gestational age, was +1.1 and +1.0, respectively, for children who started young, and +0.6 and +0.6 for those starting older (P = .001 and .032 respectively), with no difference between disorders (P > .5). For children with high adherence, 2-year HSDS gain was significantly higher than for children with lower adherence (0.8 vs +0.5, P = .030). Conclusion. Children using Easypod® have high adherence, aiding clinical decision-making and patient engagement. Adherence and catch-up growth decrease with age. Indication for GH treatment had little impact but overall catch-up growth is significantly greater with high adherence.
Topics
TNO Identifier
1019371
Source
Journal of the Endocrine Society, pp. Epub 22 Oct.
Pages
Epub 22 Oct