Mortality and reduced growth hormone secretion.
BACKGROUND
Data regarding the mortality rates of patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD), whether or not treated with growth hormone (GH), are limited, but an increased mortality rate among hypopituitary patients compared with the general population has been documented. Cardiovascular disease has been suggested as a primary cause of death, whereas cancer statistics might be influenced by the number of malignancies causing the pituitary disease. Furthermore, differences in mortality rates in females and males have been reported.


METHODS
Epidemiological studies of mortality in hypopituitary and GHD patients were identified and reviewed.


RESULTS
Most studies showed an increased mortality rate in hypopituitary and GHD patients and an increased mortality among female compared with male patients. There is a possibility that differences between patients with adult-onset and childhood-onset GHD might also exist. Two studies showed a normal mortality rate in GHD patients treated with GH compared with the general population.


CONCLUSIONS
Although an increased mortality rate in hypopituitary patients is well documented, further research is needed to provide more reliable estimates of the actual causes. Caution should be taken in the interpretation of results regarding mortality and GH treatment due to the limited amount of data and the limitations of the study designs.
Stochholm
Kirstine
K
Department of Endocrinology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. Stochholm@dadlnet.dk
Christiansen
Jens
J
Laursen
Torben
T
Gravholt
Claus Højbjerg
CH
D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000401:mortality; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000401:mortality*; D017678:Sex Distribution
D019382:Human Growth Hormone