Table 1 Characteristics of the 696 patients and additional financial support after reaching the height limit
Variables | Ineligible | Eligiblea | p valueb |
|---|---|---|---|
(n = 588) | (n = 108) | ||
GH treatment, n (%) | |||
 Stopped | 282 (48.0) | 26 (24.1) | <0.001 |
 Continued | 306 (52.0) | 82 (75.9) |  |
Sex, n (%) | |||
 Girls | 196 (33.3) | 49 (45.4) | 0.016 |
 Boys | 392 (66.7) | 59 (54.6) |  |
Age, y | |||
 Mean (SD) | 14.8 (1.4) | 14.4 (1.3) | 0.0015 |
 Girls | 13.7 (1.0) | 13.7 (1.0) | 0.62 |
 Boys | 15.4 (1.2) | 15.0 (1.1) | 0.017 |
Height SDS | |||
 Median | −1.59 | −1.525 | 0.16 |
 (Interquartile range) | (−1.89 to −1.21) | (−1.81 to −1.07) | |
Growth velocity, cm/y | |||
 Mean (SD) | 6.7 (2.9) | 6.5 (2.5) | 0.46 |
Bone age, y | (n = 520) | (n = 100) |  |
 Mean (SD) | 13.1 (1.4) | 12.9 (1.2) | 0.13 |
 Girls | 12.1 (1.1) | 12.2 (1.0) | 0.82 |
 Boys | 13.6 (1.3) | 13.6 (0.9) | 0.56 |
Puberty status, n (%) | (n = 562) | (n = 108) |  |
 Pre-puberty | 68 (12.1) | 17 (15.7) | 0.30 |
 Post-puberty | 494 (87.9) | 91 (84.3) |  |
Adverse effects, n (%) | Â | ||
 No | 560 (95.2) | 105 (97.2) | 0.46 |
 Yes | 28 (4.8) | 3 (2.8) |  |
When patients reached height limit, n (%) | |||
 Before October 2009 | 437 (74.3) | 9 (8.3) | <0.001 |
 October 2009 and after | 151 (25.7) | 99 (91.7) |  |