title: Decreased quality of life in adult patients with growth hormone deficiency compared with general populations using the new, validated, self-weighted questionnaire, questions on life satisfaction hypopituitarism module.
abstract: To develop reference ranges for the Questions on Life Satisfaction Hypopituitarism Module (QLS-H), a new quality of life questionnaire for patients with hypopituitarism, data from 8177 adults were collected in France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States QLS-H scores declined with age, were lower in females than males, and differed significantly among countries. From these reference ranges we derived equations for z-scores, which adjust for age, gender, and country. QLS-H results from 957 adults with GH deficiency (GHD) participating in clinical trials were analyzed. At baseline, QLS-H scores were lower in females and differed significantly among countries. QLS-H scores significantly increased after GH treatment (6-8 months), but differences by country persisted. Calculating z-scores for patients eliminated all gender and most country differences. Pooled z-scores (mean +/- SD) from all patients increased from -0.99 +/- 1.39 at baseline to -0.14 +/- 1.30 after GH treatment. Quality of life assessment in adults with GHD requires the use of z-scores to correct for age, gender, and country differences. This approach allows pooling of data from different cohorts and comparison with general populations. QLS-H scores in adults with GHD were significantly decreased at baseline and were almost normalized after 6-8 months of GH therapy.
authors.affiliation: Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly & Co., Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, USA. blum_werner@lilly.com
authors.forename: Werner F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: Elena P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Shavrikova
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosilio
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.forename: Aart Jan
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van der Lely
authors.forename: Andrea F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Attanasio
authors.forename: Christian J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Strasburger
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Henrich
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herschbach
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone