Endocrine Abstracts

JOINT795

Background: Short stature and advanced bone age significantly affect children’s quality of life (QoL), including their physical, emotional, and social well-being. Growth hormone (GH), gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa), and aromatase inhibitors (AI) are therapies designed to improve height outcomes, but their impact on QoL remains a critical area of study.

Objectives: This review evaluates the effects of GH, GnRHa, and AI therapies on the QoL of children with short stature and advanced bone age, highlighting the improvements in emotional, social, and physical domains across various conditions.

Methods: Data from 13 studies published between 2000 and 2024 were reviewed, focusing on the QoL outcomes of GH, GnRHa, and AI therapies in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), precocious puberty, and small-for-gestational-age (SGA). Therapy type, duration, and QoL findings were analyzed for their emotional, social, and physical impacts.

Results: Therapies consistently demonstrated positive impacts on QoL:

• Emotional well-being: GH therapy improved self-esteem and reduced anxiety in children with ISS and growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Combination therapies provided additional emotional stability in CAH and precocious puberty.

• Social interactions: Enhanced height and body image through GH and GnRHa therapies promoted better social integration, particularly in children with familial short stature, obesity-related growth delays, and Turner Syndrome.

• Physical function: AI combined with GH delayed bone age progression, maintaining mobility and reducing the physical burden of advanced skeletal maturation in precocious puberty and CAH.

• Parental satisfaction: Across multiple studies, parents reported reduced concern about their children’s emotional and social challenges due to height gains and improved psychosocial adaptation.

Discussion: QoL benefits extend beyond height improvement, addressing the stigma and social pressures associated with short stature. GH combined with GnRHa or AI enhances these effects by promoting emotional resilience, social integration, and reduced anxiety, particularly in complex conditions like CAH and SGA.

Conclusion: GH, GnRHa, and AI therapies significantly improve QoL in children with short stature and advanced bone age. By addressing emotional, social, and physical domains, these therapies provide a holistic approach to care, underscoring the importance of integrating psychosocial outcomes into treatment strategies.