Growth hormone (GH) replacement in hypopituitary adults with GH deficiency evaluated by a utility-weighted quality of life index: a precursor to cost-utility analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine quality of life (QoL) measured by a utility-weighted index in GH-deficient adults on GH replacement and analyse the impact of demographic and clinical characteristics on changes in utilities during treatment.


METHODS
Utilities for items in the QoL-Assessment of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults (QoL-AGHDA(utility)) were estimated based on data obtained from the general population in England and Wales (E&W). These estimates were used to calculate QoL changes in GH-treated patients and compare these with normative population values.


METHODS
A total of 894 KIMS patients (53% women) from E&W were followed for 1 to 6 years.


METHODS
QoL-AGHDA(utility) at baseline and at the last reported visit, total QoL-AGHDA(utility) gain and QoL-AGHDA(utility) gain per year of follow-up.


RESULTS
QoL-AGHDA(utility) in patients before GH treatment differed from the expected population values [0.67 (SD 0.174) vs. 0.85 (SD 0.038), P < 0.0001], constituting a mean deficit of -0.19 (SD 0.168). There was a difference in the mean QoL-AGHDA(utility) deficit for men [-0.16 (SD 0.170)] and women [-0.21 (SD 0.162)] (P < 0.001). The main improvement occurred during the first year of treatment [reduction of a deficit to -0.07 (SD 0.163) (P < 0.001) in the total cohort]; however, patients' utilities remained lower than those recorded for the general population during subsequent follow-up (P < 0.001). Despite an observed impact of age, primary aetiology, disease onset and comorbidities on QoL-AGHDA(utility), all patients showed a similar beneficial response to treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
QoL-AGHDA(utility) efficiently monitors treatment effects in patients with GHD. The study confirmed the QoL-AGHDA(utility) deficit before treatment and a similar QoL-AGHDA(utility) gain observed after commencement of GH replacement in all patients.
Kołtowska-Häggström
Maria
M
KIMS Medical Outcomes, Pfizer Endocrine Care, Sollentuna, Sweden. maria.koltowska-haggstrom@pfizer.com
Kind
Paul
P
Monson
John P
JP
Jonsson
Björn
B
D000328:Adult; D004393:Dwarfism, Pituitary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult