The prevalence of and risk factors for androgen deficiency in aging Taiwanese men.
BACKGROUND
Androgen deficiency in aging men has attracted much medical interest. Most studies on androgen deficiency have been conducted in Caucasian populations, and data from other ethnicities are lacking.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for androgen deficiency and symptomatic androgen deficiency in Taiwanese men over 40 years old.


METHODS
From August 2007 to April 2008, a free health screening was conducted by a medical center in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and 819 men participated in this health screening. All participants completed a health questionnaire, received a detailed physical examination, and blood samples were drawn between 8:00 and 12:00 am.


METHODS
Serum total testosterone (TT), albumin, and sex hormone-binding globulin levels were measured. The level of free testosterone (FT) was calculated. Clinical symptoms of androgen deficiency were assessed using the Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (ADAM) questionnaire.


RESULTS
Seven hundred thirty-four men who met the inclusion criteria (mean age 57.4 +/- 6.7 years; range: 43-87 years) were included in this study. The prevalence of androgen deficiency was 24.1% based on the criterion of TT level < 300 ng/dL, and 16.6% based on the criterion of both TT < 300 ng/dL and FT < 5 ng/dL. The prevalence of symptomatic androgen deficiency was 12.0%. Both prevalence of androgen deficiency and symptomatic androgen deficiency increased with age. Older age, obesity, and diabetes mellitus were independent risk factors for androgen deficiency and symptomatic androgen deficiency.


CONCLUSIONS
In a sample of aging Taiwanese men, a substantial proportion had androgen deficiency and symptomatic androgen deficiency, and the prevalence increased with age. Older age, obesity, and diabetes mellitus were independent risk factors for androgen deficiency and symptomatic androgen deficiency. Those potentially modifiable risk factors like obesity and diabetes mellitus should be prevented to maintain normal testosterone levels during aging in men.
Liu
Chia-Chu
CC
Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Wu
Wen-Jeng
WJ
Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan;; Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Lee
Yung-Chin
YC
Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan;; Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Wang
Chii-Jye
CJ
Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan;; Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Ke
Hung-Lung
HL
Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan;; Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Li
Wei-Ming
WM
Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Hsiao
Hsi-Lin
HL
Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Yeh
Hsin-Chih
HC
Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Li
Ching-Chia
CC
Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chou
Yii-Her
YH
Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan;; Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Huang
Chun-Hsiung
CH
Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan;; Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Huang
Shu-Pin
SP
Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan;; Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan;; Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: shpihu@yahoo.com.tw.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007989:Libido; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency*
D013739:Testosterone