Evaluation of quality of life in clinical practice
The NHP is not available for use in clinical practice. Therefore, Lilly developed a validated questionnaire for assessment of quality of life in patients with hypopituitarism – Questions on Life Satisfaction-Hypopituitarism© (QLS-H©).
Patients voluntarily complete the QLS-H at their adult endocrinologists' offices. They are asked to indicate how important the individual areas listed below are to them personally, and then how satisfied they are with these areas:
- ability to handle stress
- body shape/appearance
- self-confidence
- ability to become sexually aroused
- ability to concentrate
- physical endurance
- initiative/drive
- ability to deal with anger
- being able to stand the disturbances and noise of everyday life
Click the links below to view various parts of the QLS-H program. Note that a special software program is needed to score the questionnaire and is available from Lilly. Please ask your Lilly Endocrine Specialist about the QLS-H Kit which includes everything you need for QLS-H, or you may call Lilly at 1-800-LillyRx (1-800-545-5979).
- Tools for Evaluation of Quality of Life
Large scale studies have shown that quality of life in adults with GHD can improve during and after growth hormone replacement therapy with Humatrope.
- Results shown are from 156 U.S. GH-deficient patients enrolled in an uncontrolled, open-label clinical trial. Results from AO patients and CO patients are combined.
- The NHP was used for Lilly's registration studies in adults with GHD. Results demonstrated a significant improvement in the physical mobility and social isolation domains in AO patients treated with Humatrope compared to placebo. No significant improvement was noted for the other four domains. In addition, no significant improvement was observed in the CO patients for any of the six domains.
- Herschbach, et al., reported that total QLS-H scores were significantly correlated with results in all six domains of the NHP.
- The zero line corresponds to the normal value for the U.S. general population. Z-scores were calculated based on age- and sex-specific reference ranges for the U.S.
Where you and your patients may find more information about adult growth hormone deficiency
- The Pituitary Society – The Pituitary Society is an organization dedicated to furthering the understanding of diseases of the pituitary gland. Its members are scientists and clinicians whose major interest is in pituitary diseases.
Phone number: 1-212-263-6772
Internet: www.pituitarysociety.org - The Human Growth Foundation – The Human Growth Foundation helps children and adults with disorders related to growth or growth hormone through education, research, support and advocacy. This non-profit organization functions as a conduit for individuals with questions about their child's development, or adults with inquiries regarding adult GHD. The Human Growth Foundation has more than 20 publications to help educate the public on growth problems and sources of diagnosis and treatments. On its website, the foundation provides a list of groups for parents, teens and adults.
Toll free number: 1-800-451-6434
Internet: www.hgfound.org
Email: hgf1@hgfound.org
