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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 285 · 1999

5 results

Increased mortality associated with growth hormone treatment in critically ill adults.

Takala J, Ruokonen E, Webster NR, Nielsen MS, Zandstra DF, Vundelinckx G, Hinds CJ

The New England journal of medicine1 Sept 1999Cited by 624 (Europe PMC)

PMID10477776 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1056/nejm199909093411102 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-10477776
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome

    In critically ill multinational patients, mortality was 44% with GH versus 18% with placebo, relative risk 2.4 (95% confidence interval 1.6 to 3.5).

    In plain wordsIn critically ill multinational patients, GH increased in-hospital mortality compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    HGH (somatotropin)
    Outcome
    IncreaseMultinational trial in-hospital mortality
    Study

    n = 285

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Mortality · Whole body
    Studied dose
    0.10 +/- 0.02 mg/kg daily · Until intensive care discharge or maximum 21 daysAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    In-hospital mortality rate
    44%
    multinational study, growth hormone group
    In-hospital mortality rate
    18%
    multinational study, placebo group
    Relative risk of death
    2.4 ratio
    multinational study, growth hormone vs placebo
    95% confidence interval of relative risk of death
    1.6 to 3.5 ratio
    multinational study

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The respective rates in the multinational study were 44 percent and 18 percent.
    4 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The relative risk of death for patients receiving growth hormone was 1.9 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.3 to 2.9) in the Finnish study and 2.4 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.6 to 3.5) in the multinational study.
    Summary · context
    The in-hospital mortality rate was higher in the patients who received growth hormone than in those who did not (P<0.001 for both studies).
    Summary · context
    We carried out two prospective, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials in parallel involving 247 Finnish patients and 285 patients in other European countries who had been in an intensive care unit for 5 to 7 days and who were expected to require intensive care for at least 10 days.
    Summary · context
    The patients received either growth hormone (mean [+/-SD] daily dose, 0.10 +/- 0.02 mg per kilogram of body weight) or placebo until discharge from intensive care or for a maximum of 21 days.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome

    In critically ill Finnish adults, mortality was 39% with GH versus 20% with placebo, relative risk 1.9 (95% confidence interval 1.3 to 2.9).

    In plain wordsIn critically ill Finnish adults, GH increased in-hospital mortality compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    HGH (somatotropin)
    Outcome
    IncreaseFinnish trial in-hospital mortality
    Study

    n = 247

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Mortality · Whole body
    Studied dose
    0.10 +/- 0.02 mg/kg daily · Until intensive care discharge or maximum 21 daysAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    In-hospital mortality
    39%
    Growth hormone group, Finnish study
    In-hospital mortality
    20%
    Placebo group, Finnish study
    Relative risk of death
    1.9 relative risk
    Finnish study, growth hormone versus placebo
    95% confidence interval of relative risk
    1.3 to 2.9 relative risk
    Finnish study
    P value for higher in-hospital mortality with growth hormone
    < 0.001 P
    Both studies

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In the Finnish study, the mortality rate was 39 percent in the growth hormone group, as compared with 20 percent in the placebo group.
    4 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The relative risk of death for patients receiving growth hormone was 1.9 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.3 to 2.9) in the Finnish study and 2.4 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.6 to 3.5) in the multinational study.
    Summary · context
    The in-hospital mortality rate was higher in the patients who received growth hormone than in those who did not (P<0.001 for both studies).
    Summary · context
    We carried out two prospective, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials in parallel involving 247 Finnish patients and 285 patients in other European countries who had been in an intensive care unit for 5 to 7 days and who were expected to require intensive care for at least 10 days.
    Summary · context
    The patients received either growth hormone (mean [+/-SD] daily dose, 0.10 +/- 0.02 mg per kilogram of body weight) or placebo until discharge from intensive care or for a maximum of 21 days.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome

    Among critically ill adult survivors, GH prolonged intensive care stay compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsAmong critically ill adult survivors, GH prolonged intensive care stay compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    HGH (somatotropin)
    Outcome
    IncreaseSurvivors' intensive care stay
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Intensive care and hospital outcomes · Whole body
    Studied dose
    0.10 +/- 0.02 mg/kg daily · Until intensive care discharge or maximum 21 daysAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Among the survivors, the length of stay in intensive care and in the hospital and the duration of mechanical ventilation were prolonged in the growth hormone group.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    We carried out two prospective, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials in parallel involving 247 Finnish patients and 285 patients in other European countries who had been in an intensive care unit for 5 to 7 days and who were expected to require intensive care for at least 10 days.
    Summary · context
    The patients received either growth hormone (mean [+/-SD] daily dose, 0.10 +/- 0.02 mg per kilogram of body weight) or placebo until discharge from intensive care or for a maximum of 21 days.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome

    Among critically ill adult survivors, GH prolonged hospital stay compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsAmong critically ill adult survivors, GH prolonged hospital stay compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    HGH (somatotropin)
    Outcome
    IncreaseSurvivors' hospital stay
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Intensive care and hospital outcomes · Whole body
    Studied dose
    0.10 +/- 0.02 mg/kg daily · Until intensive care discharge or maximum 21 daysAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Among the survivors, the length of stay in intensive care and in the hospital and the duration of mechanical ventilation were prolonged in the growth hormone group.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    We carried out two prospective, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials in parallel involving 247 Finnish patients and 285 patients in other European countries who had been in an intensive care unit for 5 to 7 days and who were expected to require intensive care for at least 10 days.
    Summary · context
    The patients received either growth hormone (mean [+/-SD] daily dose, 0.10 +/- 0.02 mg per kilogram of body weight) or placebo until discharge from intensive care or for a maximum of 21 days.
  5. 05HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome

    Among critically ill adult survivors, GH prolonged mechanical ventilation compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsAmong critically ill adult survivors, GH prolonged mechanical ventilation compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    HGH (somatotropin)
    Outcome
    IncreaseSurvivors' mechanical ventilation duration
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Respiratory Support · Respiratory
    Studied dose
    0.10 +/- 0.02 mg/kg daily · Until intensive care discharge or maximum 21 daysAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Among the survivors, the length of stay in intensive care and in the hospital and the duration of mechanical ventilation were prolonged in the growth hormone group.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    We carried out two prospective, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials in parallel involving 247 Finnish patients and 285 patients in other European countries who had been in an intensive care unit for 5 to 7 days and who were expected to require intensive care for at least 10 days.
    Summary · context
    The patients received either growth hormone (mean [+/-SD] daily dose, 0.10 +/- 0.02 mg per kilogram of body weight) or placebo until discharge from intensive care or for a maximum of 21 days.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    28 Oct 2026, 02:03 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    27 Oct 2026, 16:36 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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