Possible predictors for QOL improvement following GH replacement therapy in adult GHD

In addition to impaired physical activity, adult GH deficiency (GHD) can decrease quality of life (QOL). Hence, assessment of QOL is important to evaluate the efficacy of GH replacement therapy. This study aimed to identify factors that may be predictive of long-term improvement in QOL among clinical/laboratory variables during GH replacement therapy. The analysis included 83 Japanese adults with GHD who participated in the Hypopituitary Control and Complications Study (HypoCCS). Correlations between the change from baseline in clinical/laboratory variables at 6 months and the change from baseline in Quality of life (Short-Form 36 [SF-36] component scores) at 12 months were examined. Unexpectedly, all component scores were negatively correlated with the change in fasting plasma glucose concentration (FPG) (physical component summary [PCS], r = -0.456; mental component summary [MCS], r = -0.523; role/social component summary [RCS], r = -0.433). The change in MCS was positively correlated with the change in insulin-like growth factor-1 standard deviation score (IGF-1 SDS) (r = 0.417). The change in PCS was positively correlated with the change in body fat (r = 0.551). The change in RCS was positively correlated with the change in waist circumference (r = 0.528). Short-term changes in several clinical/laboratory variables, most notably FPG and IGF-1 SDS, were correlated with long-term changes in QOL. The clinical importance of these correlations for predicting GH replacement treatment efficacy warrants further investigation.