Endocrine Abstracts

JOINT2093

Background: Growth hormone effect on body composition is well recognized and treatment with recombinant growth hormone (rGH) has a positive impact.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze changes in body composition parameters under rGH treatment in children diagnosed with short stature and to investigate potential influencing factors.

Material and Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted in the Endocrinology Compartment of the Mures County Hospital, Romania, approved by the local Ethics Committee. All children diagnosed with short stature and receiving rGH treatment were eligible for inclusion if they had four body composition analyses at least 6 months apart. The variables analyzed included age, gender, environment, ethnicity, age at treatment start, mean rGH dose, treatment duration before first analysis, the interval between analysis, height and body mass index (BMI) SDS, body composition parameters assessed by bioimpedance (body fat, truncal fat, muscle mass, skeletal muscle mass percentages, angle phase, and sarcopenic index) and family related variables (BMI, educational level, family income). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v.25 with a level of significance α=0.05.

Results: Thirty children were included with a mean age of 7.75±3 years and a gender ratio close to one (1,14:1). There was no statistically significant trend in body composition parameters taken during serial measurements, except for the sarcopenic index and height (P <0.001). Environment, ethnicity, age at treatment start, and family-related variables had no significant influence on body composition changes. Gender differences in body composition revealed that the change in muscle mass (P = 0.009) and skeletal muscle mass (P = 0.013) was statistically significantly higher for boys, and body fat (P = 0.013) for girls. Sarcopenic index changes correlated with height gain (r = 0.483, P = 0.007) and BMI changes (r = 0.491, P = 0.006), while angle phase correlated with changes in muscle mass (r = 0.488, P = 0.006), skeletal muscle mass (r = 0.474, P = 0.008) and mean rGH dose (r=-0.390, P = 0.033). In linear regression analysis with body composition parameters as dependent variables, puberty progression, age, age at treatment start, and duration of treatment were significant predictors for sarcopenic index change, with the model explaining 32,3% of the variation, albeit non-significant. There was no difference in body composition changes regardless of the indication for treatment.

Conclusions: Gender and pubertal status play a significant role in body composition changes while rGH seems to play a less significant role, regardless of the indication for treatment.

Keywords: short stature, bioimpedance, gender, pubertal status, rGH treatment.