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.
Valenti
Giorgio
G
Università di Milano, IRCGS Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Capone
Massimo
M
Forti
Gianni
G
Grasso
Marco
M
Mirone
Vicenzo
V
Chiaffarino
Francesca
F
Ricci
Elena
E
Appiani
Gianluca
G
Corti
Emilio
E
Fabbrica
Davide
D
Ferrario
Enzo
E
Ghezzi
Sergio
S
Grendele
Marco
M
Maroni
Paolo
P
Mazzoleni
Gianbattista
G
Nicolussi
Mario
M
Pinnavaria
Antonio
A
Rossi
Alberto
A
Sala
Vittorino
V
Santoro
Silvana
S
Autore
Gaetano
G
Avvento
Giovanni
G
Barra
Roberto
R
Brunetti
Dario
D
Catalano
Aurelio
A
Girardi
Vincenzo
V
Iovane
Giuseppe
G
Lettieri
Federico
F
Marescotti
Sergio
S
Pelaggi
Nicola
N
Sica
Gennaro
G
Delcanale
Stefano
S
Gorreri
Beatrice M
BM
Maini
Carlo
C
Peri
Fabrizio
F
Sani
Emilio
E
Sisto
Mario
M
Sullam
Anita
A
Zanardi
Giovanni
G
Burgio
Giuseppe
G
Bussotti
Alessandro
A
Caldini
Lucia
L
Gianelli
Lucia
L
Gianni
Nadia
N
Giuntoli
Massimo
M
Guarducci
Massimo
M
Nastruzzi
Alessio
A
Pacileo
Rachele
R
Pirozzi
Riccardo
R
Pisani
Lorenzo
L
Puliti
Maurizio
M
Rafanelli
Paola
P
Baron
Paolo
P
Cocomazzi
Filippo
F
Cominetti
Giovanni
G
Matera
Gianfranco
G
Panizzo
Gianfranco
G
Podrecca
Denis
D
Rupalti
Ivana
I
Spagnul
Paolo
P
Tonelli
Laura Ivana
LI
Venturini
Onorino
O
Nardo
Claudio
C
Parazzini
Fabio
F
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