INTERPRETATION We found weak correlation between signs , symptoms and testosterone levels , uncertainty about what threshold testosterone levels should be considered low for aging men and wide variation in estimated prevalence of the condition .
It is therefore difficult to extrapolate the method of diagnosing pathologic hypogonadism in younger men to clinical decisions regarding age-related testosterone decline in aging men
BACKGROUND Physicians diagnose and treat suspected hypogonadism in older men by extrapolating from the defined clinical entity of hypogonadism found in younger men .
We conducted a systematic review to estimate the accuracy of clinical symptoms and signs for predicting low testosterone among aging men .
Relationship between the Saint Louis University ADAM questionnaire and sexual hormonal levels in a male outpatient population over 50 years of age.
OBJECTIVES To determine the relationship between the ADAM question naire and the sexual hormonal levels in a male population older than 50 yr , and to know the predictive capacity of this question naire with regard to biochemical hypogonadism in the ageing male . METHODS A prospect i ve study was carried out on 230 Spanish men . Patients were evaluated by clinical history . The ADAM question naire and the Yesavage 's Geriatric Depression Scale were completed by each patient . Blood tests were performed including total testosterone , SHBG , free testosterone ( FT ) , dehidroepi and rosterone sulfate ( DHEA-S ) , and rostenedione , 17-beta-estradiol , FSH , LH , and prolactin . The relationship between positive ADAM question naire and age , clinical and sociodemographic background s , and hormone levels was analysed by means of uni- and multivariate tests . The capacity of the ADAM question naire to predict biochemical hypogonadism was determined with a chi-square test . RESULTS ADAM question naire ( excluding men with positive Yesavage 's Scale ) was positive in 140 patients ( 67.9 % ) . With respect to clinical background s , diabetes mellitus and age had a significant relationship with an ADAM-positive question naire . With respect to hormones , FT and DHEA-S levels were significantly lower when the ADAM question naire was positive . In the multivariate analysis , age , FT , and diabetes were independently related to an ADAM-positive question naire . Prevalence of biochemical hypogonadism ( FT<0.228 nmol/l ) was 24.6 % . The ADAM test had a sensitivity of 84.0 % and a specificity of 36.6 % to detect biochemical hypogonadism . CONCLUSIONS FT is inversely related to the ADAM-positive question naire , independently of age . The ADAM question naire is a valid test to detect hypogonadism but has low specificity
INTERPRETATION We found weak correlation between signs , symptoms and testosterone levels , uncertainty about what threshold testosterone levels should be considered low for aging men and wide variation in estimated prevalence of the condition .
It is therefore difficult to extrapolate the method of diagnosing pathologic hypogonadism in younger men to clinical decisions regarding age-related testosterone decline in aging men
BACKGROUND Physicians diagnose and treat suspected hypogonadism in older men by extrapolating from the defined clinical entity of hypogonadism found in younger men .
We conducted a systematic review to estimate the accuracy of clinical symptoms and signs for predicting low testosterone among aging men .