Growth hormone treatment and the risk of adolescent scoliosis: A large matched cohort study

Aim We aimed to evaluate the risk of developing adolescent scoliosis among recipients of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Methods This registry‐based cohort study included 1314 individuals who initiated rhGH treatment since 2013, treated during 10–18 years of age for at least 6 months. This group was matched to a comparison group of 6570 individuals not treated with rhGH. Demographic and clinical information was extracted from the electronic database. The results are presented using hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results During a median follow‐up of 4.2 years, 59 (4.5%) rhGH recipients and 141 individuals (2.1%) from the comparison group were diagnosed with adolescent scoliosis. The age at diagnosis did not differ between the groups (14.7 versus 14.3 years, p = 0.095). Patients treated with rhGH were more likely diagnosed with scoliosis (HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.55–2.88, p