CONTEXT: Risk factors for low testosterone and symptomatic androgen deficiency (AD) may be modifiable. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine demographic, anthropometric, and medical correlates of low testosterone and symptomatic AD. DESIGN: Data were used from the Boston Area Community Health Survey, an epidemiological study conducted from 2002-2005. SETTING: Data were obtained from a community-based random sample of racially and ethnically diverse men. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Data were available for 1822 men. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations of covariates with 1) low testosterone and 2) symptomatic AD. The operational definition of low testosterone was serum total testosterone less than 300 ng/dl and free testosterone less than 5 ng/dl; symptomatic AD was defined as the additional presence of symptoms: any of low libido, erectile dysfunction, or osteoporosis or two or more of sleep disturbance, depressed mood, lethargy, or diminished physical performance. RESULTS: Factors associated with low testosterone included age (OR = 1.36; 95% CI= 1.11-1.66, per decade), low per-capita income ($6000 or less per household member vs. more than $30,000; OR = 2.86; 95% CI = 1.39-5.87), and waist circumference (per 10-cm increase; OR = 1.75; 95% CI = 1.45-2.12). Only age (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.04-1.77), waist circumference (OR = 1.88; 95% CI = 1.44-2.47), and health status (OR = 0.21; 95% CI = 0.05-0.92, excellent vs. fair/poor) were associated with our construct of symptomatic AD. Of all variables, waist circumference was the most important contributor in both models. CONCLUSIONS: Waist circumference is a potentially modifiable risk factor for low testosterone and symptomatic AD. Manifestation of symptoms may be a consequence of generally poor health status.
CONTEXT: Risk factors for low testosterone and symptomatic androgen deficiency (AD) may be modifiable. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine demographic, anthropometric, and medical correlates of low testosterone and symptomatic AD. DESIGN: Data were used from the Boston Area Community Health Survey, an epidemiological study conducted from 2002-2005. SETTING: Data were obtained from a community-based random sample of racially and ethnically diverse men. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Data were available for 1822 men. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations of covariates with 1) low testosterone and 2) symptomatic AD. The operational definition of low testosterone was serum total testosterone less than 300 ng/dl and free testosterone less than 5 ng/dl; symptomatic AD was defined as the additional presence of symptoms: any of low libido, erectile dysfunction, or osteoporosis or two or more of sleep disturbance, depressed mood, lethargy, or diminished physical performance. RESULTS: Factors associated with low testosterone included age (OR = 1.36; 95% CI= 1.11-1.66, per decade), low per-capita income ($6000 or less per household member vs. more than $30,000; OR = 2.86; 95% CI = 1.39-5.87), and waist circumference (per 10-cm increase; OR = 1.75; 95% CI = 1.45-2.12). Only age (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.04-1.77), waist circumference (OR = 1.88; 95% CI = 1.44-2.47), and health status (OR = 0.21; 95% CI = 0.05-0.92, excellent vs. fair/poor) were associated with our construct of symptomatic AD. Of all variables, waist circumference was the most important contributor in both models. CONCLUSIONS: Waist circumference is a potentially modifiable risk factor for low testosterone and symptomatic AD. Manifestation of symptoms may be a consequence of generally poor health status.
Authors: Thomas G Travison; Andre B Araujo; Varant Kupelian; Amy B O'Donnell; John B McKinlay Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2006-12-05 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Susan M Gapstur; Peter H Gann; Peter Kopp; Laura Colangelo; Christopher Longcope; Kiang Liu Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2002-10 Impact factor: 4.254
Authors: Henry A Feldman; Christopher Longcope; Carol A Derby; Catherine B Johannes; Andre B Araujo; Andrea D Coviello; William J Bremner; John B McKinlay Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2002-02 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: David K Espey; Xiao-Cheng Wu; Judith Swan; Charles Wiggins; Melissa A Jim; Elizabeth Ward; Phyllis A Wingo; Holly L Howe; Lynn A G Ries; Barry A Miller; Ahmedin Jemal; Faruque Ahmed; Nathaniel Cobb; Judith S Kaur; Brenda K Edwards Journal: Cancer Date: 2007-11-15 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Manthos G Giannoulis; Finbarr C Martin; K Sreekumaran Nair; A Margot Umpleby; Peter Sonksen Journal: Endocr Rev Date: 2012-03-20 Impact factor: 19.871
Authors: Alvaro Morales; Richard A Bebb; Priya Manjoo; Peter Assimakopoulos; John Axler; Christine Collier; Stacy Elliott; Larry Goldenberg; Irv Gottesman; Ethan D Grober; Gordon H Guyatt; Daniel T Holmes; Jay C Lee Journal: CMAJ Date: 2015-10-26 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Margaret A Gates; Rania A Mekary; Gretchen R Chiu; Eric L Ding; Gary A Wittert; Andre B Araujo Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2013-04-26 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Adam C Millar; Adrian N C Lau; George Tomlinson; Alan Kraguljac; David L Simel; Allan S Detsky; Lorraine L Lipscombe Journal: CMAJ Date: 2016-06-20 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: John P Mulhall; Gerald B Brock; Sidney Glina; Simin Baygani; Craig F Donatucci; Mario Maggi Journal: J Sex Med Date: 2016-03-24 Impact factor: 3.802