Patient Preference and Adherence (Jul 2022)
Adherence to r-hGH Therapy in Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency: Current Perspectives on How Patient-Generated Data Will Transform r-hGH Treatment Towards Integrated Care
Abstract
Martin O Savage,1 Luis Fernandez-Luque,2 Selina Graham,3 Paula van Dommelen,4 Matheus Araujo,5 Antonio de Arriba,6 Ekaterina Koledova7 1Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, UK; 2Adhera Health Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA; 3King’s College London, London, UK; 4The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Leiden, the Netherlands; 5Neurological Institute; Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; 6Paediatric Endocrinology, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain; 7Global Medical Affairs Cardiometabolic & Endocrinology, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, GermanyCorrespondence: Martin O Savage, Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK, Tel +44 7803084491, Email [email protected]: Pediatric growth hormone (GH) deficiency is a licensed indication for replacement therapy with recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH). Treatment, consisting of daily subcutaneous injections, extends from the time of diagnosis until cessation of linear growth at completion of puberty. Suboptimal adherence to r-hGH therapy is common and has been well documented to substantially impair the growth response and achievement of the optimal goal which is attainment of adult height within the genetic target range. The causes of poor adherence are complex and include disease-, patient-, doctor-, and treatment-related factors. Interventions for suboptimal adherence are important for a long-term successful outcome and can include both face-to-face and digital strategies. Face-to-face interventions include behavioral change approaches such as motivational interviewing and non-judgmental assessment. Medical and nursing staff require training in these techniques. Digital solutions are rapidly advancing as evidenced by the electronic digital auto-injector device, easypod® (Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), which uses the web-based easypod® connect platform allowing adherence data to be transmitted electronically to healthcare professionals (HCPs), who can then access GH treatment history, enhancing clinical decisions. Over the past 10 years, the multi-national Easypod® Connect Observational Study has reported high levels of adherence (> 85%) from up to 40 countries. The easypod® connect system can be supported by a smartphone app, growlink™, which facilitates the interactions between the patients, their care team, and patient support services. HCPs are empowered by new digital techniques, however, the human–digital partnership remains essential for optimal growth management. The pediatric patient on r-hGH therapy will benefit from these innovations to enhance adherence and optimize long-term response.Keywords: behavioral support, data, digital, growth, participatory medicine
