Quality of Life in Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Evidence and Psychological Impacts
PDF

Keywords

adult growth hormone deficiency
quality of life
growth hormone replacement therapy
treatment outcomes
psychological factors

How to Cite

Rogowska, J., & Czajka-Oraniec, I. (2025). Quality of Life in Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Evidence and Psychological Impacts. Wiedza Medyczna, 7(1), 17-21. https://doi.org/10.36553/wm.176

Abstract

Adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) negatively affects quality of life (QoL) through physical, metabolic, and psychological impairments. Growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy may improve QoL, but individual responses vary. This review summarizes current evidence on QoL in untreated and treated AGHD, explores factors influencing outcomes, and highlights gaps in research and clinical practice. Growth hormone therapy improves QoL in most patients, especially those with low baseline well-being. Women and younger patients report greater benefits. Psychological and behavioral factors, including coping strategies and beliefs about treatment, significantly influence outcomes. Improvement in QoL should be a central outcome in AGHD management. Future research must address long-term outcomes, adherence, and patient-centered metrics, especially in underrepresented subgroups such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors and transitioning adolescents.

https://doi.org/10.36553/wm.176
PDF

References

Johannsson G, Ragnarsson O. Growth hormone deficiency in adults with hypopituitarism-What are the risks and can they be eliminated by therapy? J Intern Med 2021; 290(6):1180-93.

Höybye C, Christiansen JS. Growth hormone replacement in adults – current standards and new perspectives. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2015; 29(1):115-23.

Gabreanu GR. An update on the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency. Discoveries (Craiova) 2018; 6(1):e82.

Herodes M, Le N, Anderson LJ, Migula D, Miranda G, Paulsen L, et al. Metabolic and quality of life effects of growth hormone replacement in patients with TBI and AGHD: A pilot study. Growth Horm IGF Res 2023; 71:101544.

Hazem A, Elamin MB, Bancos I, Malaga G, Prutsky G, Domecq JP, et al. Body composition and quality of life in adults treated with GH therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Endocrinol 2012; b166(1):13-20.

Díez JJ, Sangiao-Alvarellos S, Cordido F. Treatment with Growth Hormone for Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency Syndrome: Benefits and Risks. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19(3).

Woodhouse LJ, Mukherjee A, Shalet SM, Ezzat S. The influence of growth hormone status on physical impairments, functional limitations, and health-related quality of life in adults. Endocr Rev 2006; 27(3):287-317.

He X, Barkan AL. Growth hormone therapy in adults with growth hormone deficiency: a critical assessment of the literature. Pituitary 2020; 23(3):294-306.

Kołtowska-Häggström M. Quality of life and growth hormone deficiency in adult patients in clinical evaluation and health economic assessment. Pediatr Endocrinol Diabetes Metab 2009; 15(3):203-9.

McGauley G. The psychological consequences and quality of life in adults with growth hormone deficiency. Growth Horm IGF Res 2000; 10(Suppl B):63-8.

Prodam F, Caputo M, Belcastro S, Garbaccio V, Zavattaro M, Samà MT, et al. Quality of life, mood disturbances and psychological parameters in adult patients with GH deficiency. Panminerva Med 2012; 54(4):323-31.

Kao KT, Stargatt R, Zacharin M. Adult Quality of Life and Psychosocial Outcomes of Childhood Onset Hypopituitarism. Horm Res Paediatr. 2015; 84(2):94-101.

Siegel S, Unger N, Streetz-van der Werf C, Karges W, Schilbach K, Schröder B, et al. Adults' Adherence to Growth Hormone Replacement in Relation to Medication-Related Beliefs, Coping and Quality of Life – An Exploratory Analysis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:680964.

Elbornsson M, Horvath A, Götherström G, Bengtsson B, Johannsson G, Svensson J. Seven years of growth hormone (GH) replacement improves quality of life in hypopituitary patients with adult-onset GH deficiency. Eur J Endocrinol. 2017; 176(2):99-109.

Webb SM. Measurements of quality of life in patients with growth hormone deficiency. J Endocrinol Invest 2008; 31(9 Suppl):52-5.

Deijen JB, Arwert LI. Impaired quality of life in hypopituitary adults with growth hormone deficiency: can somatropin replacement therapy help? Treat Endocrinol 2006; 5(4):243-50.

Lewiński A, Smyczyńska J, Stawerska R, Hilczer M, Stasiak M, Bednarczuk T, et al. National Program of Severe Growth Hormone Deficiency Treatment in Adults and Adolescents after Completion of Growth Promoting Therapy. Endokrynol Pol 2018; 69(5):468-524.

Barbosa JA, Salvatori R, Oliveira CR, Pereira RM, Farias CT, Britto AV, et al. Quality of life in congenital, untreated, lifetime isolated growth hormone deficiency. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2009; 34(6):894-900.

Lašaitė L, Matukaitienė R, Navardauskaitė R. Quality of life and profile of mood states in patients with childhood-onset hypopituitarism and growth hormone deficiency during the discontinuation of growth hormone replacement therapy at the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Endocrine 2025; 87(3):1182-93.

The World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL): position paper from the World Health Organization. Soc Sci Med 1995; 41(10):1403-9.

Webb SM, Badia X. Quality of life in growth hormone deficiency and acromegaly. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 2007; 36(1):221-32.

Olczyk J, Kokoszko A, Lewiński A, Karbownik-Lewińska M. Quality of life and exercise capacity in obesity and growth hormone deficiency. Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2010; 31(5):700-7.

Ikeda H, Kudo M. Long-term follow-up results of growth hormone therapy for patients with adult growth hormone deficiency. Hormones (Athens) 2016; 15(1):45-53.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Metrics



Downloads

Download data is not yet available.