SAT-210 Adherence To Growth Hormone Treatment In The Transition Age: A Prospective Study*

Abstract Disclosure: L. Casula: None. P. van Dommelen: None. C. Guzzetti: None. M. Cappa: None. A. Colao: None. M. Doknic: None. M. Maghnie: None. L. Persani: None. G. Pozzobon: None. M. Salerno: None. S. Loche: None. Background: Young adults with childhood-onset and persistent GH deficiency (COGHD) may be exposed to multiple metabolic risks after GH treatment withdrawal. Continuing GH treatment in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of GHD after the achievement of adult height during the transition period is thus recommended to obtain full skeletal/muscle maturation. Real world data have shown suboptimal adherence in about 15% of children with GHD. Adherence is correlated with catch-up growth in the first two years. Little is known on adherence in patients with permanent GHD during the transition period.Patients and methods: Fifty-one patients aged 15-25 y (33 males) with COGHD and continuing GH treatment at the dose of 0.003-0.07 mg/Kg/day after the achievement of adult height were enrolled in a prospective study to monitor their adherence for 1 year. Adherence was measured with the Easypod™ device which allows an automatic objective measure of adherence over time. Anthropometric measures, serum cholesterol (chol) and IGF1 concentrations were obtained before and after 1 year observation. Only patients with at least 9 months of adherence data were selected for the analysis.Results: In total, 41 patients were available (27 males, age 15-25 y) for this analysis. Sixty-three % of the patients (n= 26, 16 males) had optimal (≥85%) adherence. At treatment start, their mean (SD) age was 19.0 (2.6) years, mean height standard deviation score (HSDS) was -0.50 (1.1), mean BMI was 22.4 (4.2) kg/m2, mean chol was 161.1 (41.5) mg/dl, and mean IGF-1 SDS was -1.4 (1.7). At treatment start, in the group of sub-optimal (≤85%) adherent patients (n=15, 11 males) mean age was 17.8 (2.0) years, mean HSDS was -0.6 (1.1), mean BMI was 23.5 (8.1) kg/m2, mean chol was 163.5 (40.1) mg/dl, and mean IGF-1 SDS was -2.5 (1.7). Mean IGF-1 concentration after 1 year was 0.2 (1.3) and -0.9 (1.5) SDS and mean chol was 167.1 (34.5) and 185.1 (38.5) mg/dl in the optimal and suboptimal adherent groups, respectively. The mean change in IGF-1 SDS between treatment start and 1 year later was 1.7 (1.3) in the optimal adherent group, and 1.5 (1.3) in the sub-optimal adherent group. After 1 year mean BMI was 22.3 (3.7) and 23.8 (8) kg/m2 in the optimal and sub-optimal adherent group, respsctively. Conclusions: Our study shows that a high proportion of patients with permanent GHD in the transition age have suboptimal adherence to GH treatment. This figure is higher than that reported during childhood. Patients with suboptimal adherence show lower IGF-1 SDS both at treatment start and after 1 year. These data suggest that adherence should be closely monitored in these patients and actions should be taken to prevent poor adherence and obtain the best results from treatment.*This study was supported by an unrestricted grant from Merck Serono Presentation: Saturday, July 12, 2025