Effects of Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy on Quality of Life in Patients with Somatopause

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: There is increasing interest in growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy to improve quality of life (QoL) of elderly with age-related decline in GH level (somatopause). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of GH replacement on the QoL in patients with somatopause. METHOD: A prospective study of 56 adults with somatopause was conducted. They were replaced with a GH over a 6-month period. QoL was assessed by using three self-rating questionnaires: the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) and theAssessment of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults (AGHDA). RESULTS: Significant impairment in QoL as measured by NHP, PGWBI and AGHDA were noted in patients with somatopause compared with age and sex matched normal population (p<0.05). There was significant improvement in QoL after 6-month of GH replacement (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Six months GH replacement induced an improvement in the QoL of patients with somatopause.