Aging Male Questionnaire in normal and complaining men.
BACKGROUND
Detection of androgen deficiency is at least, based on specific questionnaires, defined by sexual, psychological, and somatic variables. Their relationships with sexual hormone levels are poorly understood.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the Aging Male Symptoms (AMS) score and sex hormone levels in normal and complaining men in order to define the relationship between the key parameters related to androgen deficiency.


METHODS
Nine hundred and three men were interviewed via phone by a trained interviewer who completed the questionnaire; 539 men consulting for a checkup in a health center and 471 complaining men, who completed the AMS scale in clinical setting, were selected, after excluding subjects with major and/or chronic diseases, endocrine disorders, psychological dysfunctions, and metabolic syndrome.


METHODS
Total AMS score and psychological, somatic and sexual subscores, as a function of age.


RESULTS
The AMS questionnaires the were completed in a clinical setting or via calling-up line were comparable. In both cases, total AMS scores and subscores were significantly dependent of age and were correlated to income. In normal men, the only two parameters that significantly changed with age were the AMS sexual subscore and bioavailable testosterone (BT). Complaining men aged more than 50 years old had a significantly higher total AMS scores, subscores, and BT level than normal men up to 60 years old, and these differences weakened with increasing age. In normal and complaining men, whatever the AMS sexual subscore, any variation in testosterone (T) and BT levels was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The AMS scale could be defined as a screening test for androgen deficiency symptoms in men between 50 and 65 years of age. The sexual AMS subscore and BT level are the key variables to identify those symptoms; the severity of sexual symptoms can not be explained by a BT level decrease.
Raynaud
Jean-Pierre
JP
Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France. jeanpierre@raynaud.ws
Tichet
Jean
J
Born
Catherine
C
Taieb
Charles
C
Igigabel
Philippe
P
Giton
Franck
F
Fiet
Jean
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D001682:Biological Availability; D005602:France; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency
D013739:Testosterone