title: Psychosocial health and levels of employment in 851 hypopituitary Swedish patients on long-term GH therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The psychosocial health and working capacity in hypopituitary patients receiving long-term growth hormone (GH) therapy are unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Psychosocial health and levels of employment were compared between GH deficient (GHD) patients on long-term replacement and the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a Swedish nationwide study, 851 GHD patients [101 childhood onset (CO) and 750 adult onset (AO)] and 2622 population controls answered a questionnaire regarding current living, employment and educational level, alcohol consumption and smoking habits. The median time on GH therapy for both men and women with CO GHD was 9 years and for AO GHD 6 years, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As compared to the controls, the GHD patients were less often working full time, more often on sick leave/disability pension, and to a larger extent alcohol abstainers and never smokers (all; P<0.05). Predominantly CO GHD women and men, but to some extent also AO GHD women and men, lived less frequently with a partner and more often with their parents. Particularly AO GHD craniopharyngioma women used more antidepressants, while AO GHD men with a craniopharyngioma used more analgesics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A working capacity to the level of the general population was not achieved among hypopituitary patients, although receiving long-term GH therapy. Patients were less likely to use alcohol and tobacco. The CO GHD population lived a less independent life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Centralsjukhuset, Kristianstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Holmer
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rylander
authors.forename: Gudmundur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Johannsson
authors.forename: Thord
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosén
authors.forename: Bengt-Åke
authors.initials: BÅ
authors.lastname: Bengtsson
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thorén
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Höybye
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Degerblad
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bramnert
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hägg
authors.forename: Britt Edén
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Engström
authors.forename: Bertil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ekman
authors.forename: Eva-Marie
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Erfurth
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone