title: [Symptomatic evaluation of late onset hypogonadism in healthy Chinese men].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation between the symptoms and serum levels of androgen in healthy Chinese men aged over 40 years, and to work out a new symptomatic inventory for screening late onset hypogonadism (LOH) in Chinese men.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 18-item questionnaire was designed and 637 respondents were collected from Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Chongqing. Serum total testosterone, calculated free testosterone, testosterone secretion index and free testosterone index were measured. An analysis of the correlation between symptoms and androgens was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The twelve-item symptoms were significantly correlated to 2 or more of the 4 androgens mentioned above, marking up a new symptomatic inventory for screening LOH, with a 70% sensitivity and 46% specificity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new symptomatic inventory is acceptable for the screening purpose. The relatively low specificity may be related to the individual response to the decline of serum androgens and age-related changes of other hormones, such as GH-IGF-1 axis, DHEA, thyroid hormones, melatonin and leptin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China. j-y.li@263.net
authors.forename: Jiang-yuan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gao-kui
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fang-ling
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Zhi-min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Nan-yan
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002681:China; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol