title: Decreased psychological well-being in adult patients with growth hormone deficiency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Besides effects on body composition, bone mineral content and lipid metabolism, GH seems to influence quality of life, according to previous studies of limited numbers of patients with GH deficiency of childhood and adult origin. In this study psychological well-being was assessed in a large number of patients with GH deficiency of adult origin.
  
  
  METHODS
  A follow-up study of patients with hypopituitarism on routine replacement therapy with L-thyroxine, cortisone acetate and sex steroids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-six patients (51 men, mean age 55.4 years and 35 women, mean age 54.9 years) diagnosed as having growth hormone deficiency on the basis of low IGF-I concentration or a maximum GH response less than 5 mU/l after an insulin/glucagon tolerance test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quality of life was measured with a self-rating questionnaire, the Nottingham Health Profile, and the results were compared with the results from 86 controls matched for age, gender, marital status and socioeconomic class. Furthermore, the observed and expected number of disablement pensions were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean total score of the patients was higher, i.e. worse (P < 0.05), than that of the matching controls, indicating a higher level of perceived health problems among the patients. There were higher scores (poorer life quality) for energy (P < 0.001), social isolation (P < 0.01), emotional reaction (P = 0.056) and sex life (P < 0.001) among patients compared with controls. Finally, the observed number of disablement pension among the patients tended to be higher than expected (19 vs 12.4, P = 0.09).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adult patients with GH deficiency have a decreased psychological well-being in terms of energy, social isolation and emotional reaction and a disturbed sex life compared with normals. Furthermore, there is a tendency to a higher frequency of early retirement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosén
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wirén
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilhelmsen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wiklund
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bengtsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011897:Random Allocation; D012179:Retirement
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone