Inverse relationship between scores on the quality of life questionnaire SF-12 and on the Aging Males' Symptoms scale in Italian men.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the relation between results of the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) questionnaire for aging males, and of quality of life (QOL) questionnaire SF-12 and cardiovascular risk factors.


METHODS
1,927 men aged 55-85 years were interviewed by 56 general practitioners. During the interview the men were asked to fill in the AMS scale and the QOL questionnaire SF-12.


RESULTS
Of 1,927 men 1,806 men filled correctly the AMS questionnaire. The mean SF-12 mental index was respectively 55.9 in men with a total AMS score indicating no impairment, 50.9 mild, 42.8 moderate, and 32.8 severe impairment. The corresponding values for the physical index were 51.2, 46.7, 40.8 and 32.3. A history of diabetes was associated with an increased risk of reporting moderate/severe impairment: in relation to the total AMS score the odds ratio, (OR), of moderate/severe impairment in comparison with no impairment was 1.6 (95%CI 1.2-2.1). A history of myocardial infarction and hypertension increased the risk (respectively OR 1.4 (95%CI 1.1-18) and 1.7 (95%CI 1.2-2.4)).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that higher AMS scores are associated with lower SF-12 indices and suggests that elevated values of the AMS score are associated with cardiovascular risk factors or diseases.
Università di Milano, IRCGS Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Giorgio
G
Valenti
Massimo
M
Capone
Gianni
G
Forti
Marco
M
Grasso
Vicenzo
V
Mirone
Francesca
F
Chiaffarino
Elena
E
Ricci
Gianluca
G
Appiani
Emilio
E
Corti
Davide
D
Fabbrica
Enzo
E
Ferrario
Sergio
S
Ghezzi
Marco
M
Grendele
Paolo
P
Maroni
Gianbattista
G
Mazzoleni
Mario
M
Nicolussi
Antonio
A
Pinnavaria
Alberto
A
Rossi
Vittorino
V
Sala
Silvana
S
Santoro
Gaetano
G
Autore
Giovanni
G
Avvento
Roberto
R
Barra
Dario
D
Brunetti
Aurelio
A
Catalano
Vincenzo
V
Girardi
Giuseppe
G
Iovane
Federico
F
Lettieri
Sergio
S
Marescotti
Nicola
N
Pelaggi
Gennaro
G
Sica
Stefano
S
Delcanale
Beatrice M
BM
Gorreri
Carlo
C
Maini
Fabrizio
F
Peri
Emilio
E
Sani
Mario
M
Sisto
Anita
A
Sullam
Giovanni
G
Zanardi
Giuseppe
G
Burgio
Alessandro
A
Bussotti
Lucia
L
Caldini
Lucia
L
Gianelli
Nadia
N
Gianni
Massimo
M
Giuntoli
Massimo
M
Guarducci
Alessio
A
Nastruzzi
Rachele
R
Pacileo
Riccardo
R
Pirozzi
Lorenzo
L
Pisani
Maurizio
M
Puliti
Paola
P
Rafanelli
Paolo
P
Baron
Filippo
F
Cocomazzi
Giovanni
G
Cominetti
Gianfranco
G
Matera
Gianfranco
G
Panizzo
Denis
D
Podrecca
Ivana
I
Rupalti
Paolo
P
Spagnul
Laura Ivana
LI
Tonelli
Onorino
O
Venturini
Claudio
C
Nardo
Fabio
F
Parazzini
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires