Prevalence of symptoms possibly related to PADAM, in a Swedish population aged 55, 65 and 75 years.
OBJECTIVE
With age there is an average decline in the concentration of biologically active testosterone. It is still controversial if this leads to a clinically relevant deficit, "partial androgen deficiency of the ageing man" (PADAM). Our objective was to investigate the prevalence of a series of symptoms possibly associated with PADAM in an assumed normal-population of older men.


METHODS
We developed a questionnaire including items about symptoms possibly associated with PADAM as well as background data covering demography, medical history, mood status, medication, castration therapy, as well as smoking, exercise and alcohol habits. The 10 items of the ADAM-questionnaire, designed to predict low bio-available T, were also included. The questionnaire was sent to all 1885 men 55, 65 or 75-years-old, living in Linköping, Sweden.


RESULTS
We identified a number of symptoms that differed significantly (P < 0.01) between age groups, e.g., "increased abdominal circumference", "decrease in muscle strength and/or endurance", "decreased libido", "less strong erection" and "lack of energy". From factorial analysis we found that the symptoms co-varied in four different groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of a number of symptoms differed significantly between age groups, but we cannot infer that there is a causal connection between an average age-dependent decline in testosterone function and these symptoms. There are several other ways to interpret these results like the existence of concurrent somatic and/or mood disorders or ageing as such. For this purpose further studies including measurements of testosterone concentrations relating to the findings of this study have to be performed.
Gladh
Y Mathias
YM
Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Hospital, S-581 85 Linkoping, Sweden. mathias.gladh@nln.dll.se
Rahgozar
Mohammad
M
Hammar
Mats L
ML
Fredriksson
Mats G
MG
Spetz
Anna-Clara E
AC
D000005:Abdomen; D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000339:Affect; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000728:Androgens / Q000172:deficiency*; D001827:Body Height; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido / Q000502:physiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone