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Correlations of androgen deficiency with clinical symptoms in Taiwanese males

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 18, pages 343–347 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to elucidate correlations between different biochemical measurements of androgen deficiency and clinical symptoms in male residents of Taiwan. An investigation of the serum biochemical markers for androgen deficiency in 650 males, including total testosterone, calculated free testosterone, and bioavailable testosterone, was conducted. Measurements of clinical symptoms were obtained using a questionnaire of the androgen deficiency in the aging male (ADAM) by St Louis University (SLQ). Correlations among the biochemical markers, correlations of the biochemical markers and age, and relationships between the biochemical markers and the SLQ were evaluated. The sensitivity and specificity of the SLQ were determined. Bioavailable and calculated free testosterone correlated better with age than did total testosterone. Eighty percent of the men had a positive SLQ, and 20% had a negative SLQ. The percentage of positive SLQ results increased with age. No statistically significant difference was noted between the biochemical markers of bioavailable and calculated free testosterone levels and the SLQ status except for men aged over 70 years. The SLQ in this study showed an acceptable sensitivity of about 80%, but the specificity was poor (about 20%). In conclusion, bioavailable testosterone and calculated free testosterone were more-closely correlated with age and may be better biochemical markers for androgen deficiency. SLQ might not be a suitable single measurement for androgen deficiency and should be used together with biochemical markers.

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Acknowledgements

This study was in part financially supported by the Taiwanese Association of Andrology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Shin-Kong WHS Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Y C Lin & T I S Hwang

  2. Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan

    T I S Hwang & H S Chiang

  3. Department of Urology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

    T I S Hwang

  4. Division of Urology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

    C R Yang

  5. Department of Urology, China Medical University Hospital, Shenyang, China

    H C Wu

  6. Division of Urology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    T L Wu

  7. Division of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    S P Huang

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  1. Y C Lin
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Correspondence to T I S Hwang.

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Lin, Y., Hwang, T., Chiang, H. et al. Correlations of androgen deficiency with clinical symptoms in Taiwanese males. Int J Impot Res 18, 343–347 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901417

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901417

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