The Impact of COVID-19 Regulations on Adherence to Recombinant Human Growth Hormone Therapy: Evidence from Real-World Data
Paula van Dommelen,
Rosa Maria Baños,
Lilian Arnaud,
Quentin Le Masne,
Ekaterina Koledova
Affiliations
Paula van Dommelen
The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research TNO, P.O. Box 2215, NL-2301 CE Leiden, The Netherlands
Rosa Maria Baños
Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 21, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Lilian Arnaud
Connected Health & Devices, Global Healthcare Operations, Ares Trading S.A., 1262 Eysins, Switzerland (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany)
Quentin Le Masne
Connected Health & Devices, Global Healthcare Operations, Ares Trading S.A., 1262 Eysins, Switzerland (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany)
Ekaterina Koledova
Global Medical Affairs Cardiometabolic & Endocrinology, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, F135/001, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
Worldwide regulations during COVID-19 positively and negatively impacted self-management in paediatric patients with chronic medical conditions. We investigated the impact of regulations on adherence to recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) therapy in paediatric patients with growth disorders, using real-world adherence data extracted March 2019–February 2020 (before COVID-19) and March 2020–February 2021 (during COVID-19) from the easypod™ connect ecosystem. Data from three measures of regulations were analysed: stringency index (SI), school closure and stay-at-home. The mean SI, and the proportion of days with required school closure or stay-at-home during COVID-19 were categorised as high versus medium/low based on the 75th percentile. Adherence was categorised as optimal (≥85%) versus suboptimal (p p = 0.13). Stringent COVID-19 regulations resulted in improved adherence to r-hGH therapy in patients with growth disorders, supported by connected digital health technologies. Insights into patient behavior during this time are useful to understand potential influences and strategies to improve long-term adherence to r-hGH.
