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. 2013 Sep;54(9):619-23.
doi: 10.4111/kju.2013.54.9.619. Epub 2013 Sep 10.

Serum total testosterone level and identification of late-onset hypogonadism: a community-based study

Sungmin Kang  1 , Hyun Jun Park, Nam Cheol Park
Affiliations

Serum total testosterone level and identification of late-onset hypogonadism: a community-based study

Sungmin Kang et al. Korean J Urol. 2013 Sep.

Abstract

Purpose: Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) in aging males is a clinical and biochemical syndrome characterized by a decline in serum testosterone levels. LOH results in various physical and mental disabilities. We evaluated the relationship between serum testosterone levels and symptoms of LOH.

Materials and methods: During an andropause screening program, we examined responses to the Saint Louis university androgen deficiency in aging males (ADAM) questionnaire and results on the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) in terms of clinical symptoms and evaluated serum total testosterone levels for a biochemical diagnosis of LOH in healthy community-living volunteers aged over 40 years.

Results: The mean age of the 534 men was 59.1 years (range, 40 to 79 years), and their mean serum testosterone level was 464.1±171.9 ng/dL. The serum testosterone level decreased significantly with age. There was a 92.5% positive response rate to the ADAM questionnaire. The percentage of patients whose serum testosterone level was <350 ng/dL among those with a positive response to the ADAM questionnaire was 25.6% (137 patients). The mean serum testosterone level among patients with a positive or negative ADAM questionnaire was 472.4±198.5 ng/dL and 487.3±165.7 ng/dL, respectively (p>0.05). There was no significant correlation between IIEF-5 scores and serum testosterone levels.

Conclusions: Among men over 40 years of age, 25.6% met the clinical and biochemical diagnostic criteria for LOH. There was no relationship between serum testosterone levels and symptoms of LOH.

Keywords: Aging; Andropause; Testosterone.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Figures

FIG. 1
FIG. 1
Serum total testosterone level according to age. r2=0.009, p=0.04.
FIG. 2
FIG. 2
International index of erectile function (IIEF-5) score according to total testosterone level. r2=0.004, p=0.112.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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