EFFECT OF GROWTH-HORMONE TREATMENT ON QUALITY-OF-LIFE OF SHORT-STATURE CHILDREN

While enhanced growth velocity is a well-established benefit following the initiation of growth hormone treatment (GHT), the potential benef it of GHT on quality of life (QOL) of short-stature children has not y et been documented. We compare QOL of two groups of short-stature chil dren who attended the Endocrine Unit (EU) and were 2 SD or more below the average for age and gender. The first group included 96 patients o f whom 65 were without any underlying disease, 15 had classical GH def iciency and 16 had Turner syndrome or renal disease. These patients we re on GHT for at least 2 years. The other group included 33 patients. Owing to lack of resources to include these 33 patients in a clinical trial, they did not get GHT. They were normal variant of short stature , and their height was similar to the height of the 65 children includ ed in the first group. QOL was assessed using self-administered questi onnaires, which were filled out by the patients on their regular visit to the EU. QOL was defined in terms of school achievements, leisure a ctivities, emotional and physical self-esteem, relationships with peer s and family members. No significant differences were found between th e two groups. The mean scores for the different domains of QOL ranged between 2.6 and 3.8 on a scale ranging from 1 (very pessimistic view) to 4 (very optimistic view).