title: Free testosterone levels and implications on clinical outcomes in elderly men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aging is accompanied by a progressive decline in serum testosterone. Evidence concerning the clinical manifestations of low serum testosterone levels is contradictory. We aimed to examine the age-related decline in testosterone and the possible clinical outcomes, including erectile dysfunction, prostatism, cognitive function, daily life activities, depression, and osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty men underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment. Testosterone and free testosterone levels were measured, geriatric assessment scales, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and International Prostate Symptom Scale (IPSS) were performed, and bone mineral densities were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the 120 men was 73.8+/-5.90. A significant decrease in testosterone and free testosterone levels with increasing age was determined (p=0.021). It was also found that erectile dysfunction, as determined by IIEF (r=0.66, p<0.001), and symptoms of prostatism determined by IPSS (r=-0.23, p=0.016), were significantly associated with low free testosterone levels. Laboratory parameters, obesity, osteoporosis, cognitive function, daily life activities, and cardiovascular diseases were not significantly different between groups with low and normal free testosterone levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age-related decrease in free testosterone may lead to erectile dysfunction and symptoms of prostatism in elderly men.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University, 06100 Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey. bbdogu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Burcu Balam
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Yavuz
authors.forename: Nihal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozkayar
authors.forename: Meltem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halil
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cankurtaran
authors.forename: Zekeriya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ulger
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tezcan
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gurlek
authors.forename: Servet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ariogul
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000097:blood; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone