5 Recommendations for further research
5.1 Further good-quality studies are needed in the following areas.
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To investigate whether titrated-dose GH therapy improves QoL more than placebo in GH-deficient adults, and to quantify the treatment effect more accurately.
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To ascertain the most sensitive way of measuring the QoL gain in GH-treated adults, particularly with regard to generating preference-based utilities.
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To investigate the relationship between SMR and GH deficiency for both adult-onset and childhood-onset GH deficiency, as well as for different subgroups.
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To investigate whether patients with MPHD and idiopathic isolated GH deficiency have different treatment requirements, in order to achieve cost effective use of GH treatment.
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To investigate whether different treatment criteria are warranted for childhood and adult onset GH deficiency, in order to optimise the benefits from GH treatment.