Comparison of two prediction models in a clinical setting to predict growth in prepubertal children on recombinant growth hormone.

Objective: Prediction models that calculate the growth response in children on recombinant growth hormone (GH) have shown to be helpful tools in deciding who should start treatment, as identifying GH deficiency can be a challenge. The aim of the study is to compare two prediction models; the KIGS (Pfizer International Growth Study) prediction models which are more accessible and the Gothenburg model which has previously been clinically validated.

Design: All prepubertal patients who commenced GH treatment at Queen Silvia Children's Hospital in Gothenburg during a 13-year-period were candidates for the study.

A prediction model could foresee adequate height response in children eligible for growth hormone treatment.

Aim: Prediction models may be useful in accurately identifying children who will benefit from growth hormone (GH) treatment. We aimed to validate the Gothenburg prediction model for this purpose.

Methods: The study included prepubertal children with GH deficiency who started treatment with GH during 2004-2016 at Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, based on a first-year growth prediction of ≥0.