ANDROTEST: a structured interview for the screening of hypogonadism in patients with sexual dysfunction.
BACKGROUND
Detecting hypogonadism, which is important in the general population, becomes crucial in patients with sexual dysfunctions, because hypogonadism can have a causal role for them and testosterone (T) substitution represents a milestone for the therapy.


OBJECTIVE
No inventories are available for the screening of hypogonadism in patients with sexual dysfunction. We wished to set up a brief structured interview providing scores useful for detecting hypogonadism defined as low total T (<10.4 nmol/L, 300 ng/dL) in a symptomatic population (sexual dysfunction).


METHODS
A minimum set of items was identified within a larger structured interview through iterative receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, with assessment of sensitivity and specificity for hypogonadism in a sample of 215 patients.


METHODS
Sensitivity and specificity were verified in a further sample of 664 patients. Correlation of test scores with prostate-specific antigen (PSA), testis volume, and others clinical and psychological parameters, was assessed for concurrent validity.


RESULTS
In the validation sample, the final 12-item version of the interview (ANDROTEST) had a sensitivity and specificity of 68% and 65%, in detecting low total T (<10.4 nmol/L) and of 71% and 65%, in the screening for low free T (<37 pmol/L). Furthermore, patients with a pathological test (i.e., score >8) showed higher prevalence of hypogonadism-related signs, such as lower testis volume and higher depressive symptoms. Finally, when only younger patients (<54 years, which represents the median age of the sample) were considered, Log10 [PSA] levels were significantly lower in those with ANDROTEST score >8.


CONCLUSIONS
ANDROTEST is a quick and easy-to-administer interview that provides scores for the screening of male hypogonadism in patients with sexual dysfunction.
Corona
Giovanni
G
Andrology Unit, Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy;; Endocrinology Unit, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
Mannucci
Edoardo
E
Diabetes Section Geriatric Unit, Department of Critical Care, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Petrone
Luisa
L
Andrology Unit, Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Balercia
Giancarlo
G
Endocrinology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Fisher
Alessandra D
AD
Andrology Unit, Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Chiarini
Valerio
V
Endocrinology Unit, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
Forti
Gianni
G
Andrology Unit, Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Maggi
Mario
M
Andrology Unit, Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy;. Electronic address: m.maggi@DFC.UNIFI.IT.
D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency*
D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone