QOL of Some Adult GH-Deficient (GHD) Patients: Comparison of QOL in GHD with and without Gonadotropin Deficiency

Abstract

The quality of life (QOL) of 53 male and 18 female adult GH-deficient (GHD) patients with gonadotropin deficiency (group 2) was studied in comparison with that of 84 male and 33 female adult GHD patients without gonadotropin deficiency (group 1). Both male and female GHD patients advanced to university at a significantly higher ratio than the general population (p<0.05, p<0.01). More than two thirds of male and female patients in both groups lived with their parents and had no girl friend or boy friend. They worked with more satisfaction and got less income than the general population, but no difference between groups 1 and 2 was observed in working status. No unemployed were found among 50 male patients in group 1, but there were 4 aged 24 to 31 years among 50 male patients in group 2. The marriage rate for male patients in group 2 was significantly (p<0.01) lower than that for the general population. More male patients in group 2 than in group 1 lacked selfassertion (p<0.05), were anxious about their body and marriage (p<0.01), and also had complaints suggesting psychosomatic diseases and neurosis (p<0.05), but no difference was observed between female patients in groups 1 and 2.