Registries as a tool in evidence-based medicine : example of KIMS (Pfizer International Metabolic Database)

• Purpose To evaluate the value of a registry, set in 'real-life practice', as a contribution to evidence-based medicine and to estimate the impact of information collected in such a registry, on the up to date knowledge in growth hormone (GH)-related disorders. Methods Analysis of data collected prospectively for a pharmacoepidemiological registry-KIMS (Pfizer International Metabolic Database)-in assessing long-term clinical and safety outcomes of GH treatment (Genotropin (R)) in patients with GH deficiency. The study was based on 11374 treated (40000 patient-years of observation) and 263 untreated adult GH deficient patients from 30 countries, in whom background characteristics, clinical values such as lipids and body composition, quality of life (QoL) and GH dosage as well as safety profile were evaluated. Citation analysis for the published papers was also performed. Results The study depicts the clinical picture of adult patients with GH deficiency managed in current clinical settings. It confirms the features previously detected such as increased cardiovascular risk, mostly dyslipidemia and abnormal body composition as well as impaired QoL. There was considerable heterogeneity of conditions resulting in GH deficiency. The large database also enabled study of rare causes of the condition. The 31 out of 36 KIMS papers were cited 544 times, in 125 different journals. Conclusions These findings and the further insight into the response to GH replacement therapy show that the registry methodology is valuable for filling the gaps of information in evidence-based medicine that cannot be addressed by clinical trials.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Farmaceutiska vetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Pharmaceutical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

growth hormone deficiency in adults

hypopituitarism

safety

treatment outcome

pharmacoepidemiology

survey

PHARMACY

FARMACI

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)