National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Growth hormone deficiency



I am having difficulty obtaining consistent US prevalence data on Growth hormone deficiency in children and Growth hormone deficiency in adults. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

The investigators involved in the Utah Growth study estimated the prevalence of pediatric growth hormone deficiency in the United States as at least 1 case per 3480 children. While this study was published in 1994, we were unable to identify more recent domestic data. CLICK HERE to read the abstract of this report published in The Journal of Pediatrics. [1]

Regarding adult growth hormone deficiency, the authors of the Medscape Reference article on this topic write, " An estimated 6,000 adults are diagnosed with GH deficiency every year in the United States. Adult GH deficiency has been estimated to affect 1 in 100,000 people annually." [2]




Last updated: 7/7/2014

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GARD Information Specialist

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  1. Lindsay R, Feldkamp M, Harris D, Robertson J, Rallison M. Utah Growth Study: growth standards and the prevalence of growth hormone deficiency. 1994 Jul; 125(1):29-35. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8021781. Accessed 7/7/2014.
  2. Mohsen S Eledrisi et al. Growth Hormone Deficiency. Last updated: 10/17/2013; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/120767-overview#a0199. Accessed 7/7/2014.