Symptoms of testosterone deficiency in early middle aged men

Figures & data

Table I.  Demographic and clinical data on men answering the specific questions (mean ± SD or percentage(n)). Answers to every item were not given in all questionnaires.

	Age group		p value
	35 YY n = 346	45 YY n = 427
BMI (kg/m^2)	25.2 ± 0.16	26.2 ± 0.19	p < 0.001
	n = 344	n = 422
Increased waist-size	45.3% (139)	62% (225)	p < 0.0001
Smoking status
Never smoked	81.1% (279)	69.3% (293)	p < 0.05
Former smoker	14.8% (51)	19.39% (82)	p < 0.05
Smoker	4.1% (14)	11.4% (48)	p < 0.05
Alcohol use
No alcohol	8.7% (30)	12.0% (51)	NS
Sometimes/month	46.8% (162)	41.3% (175)	NS
Every week	44.5% (154)	46.0% (195)	NS
Every day	–	0.39% (3)	NS
Employ status:
Work fulltime	90.1% (308)	87.1% (370)	NS
Work part-time	4.4% (15)	4.0% (17)	NS
Retired	0.3% (1)	–
Applying for job	4.4% (15)	5.9% (25)	NS
Sick-leave	0.6% (2)	1.2% (5)	NS
Retired due to disease	0.3% (1)	1.9% (8)	NS
Civil status:
Married/co-habiter	78.9% (273)	77.5% (330)	NS
Living alone, previously  married/co-habiter	6.65% (23)	10.1% (43)	NS
In a relationship but not living  together	4.1% (14)	3.8% (16)	NS
Living alone	10.4% (36)	8.7% (37)	NS
Exercise habits:
Golf	25.8% (42)	28.2% (61)	NS
Regular walks	79.6% (203)	80.7% (271)	NS
Bicycling	55.9% (113)	57.6% (148)	NS
Tennis, table tennis, Badminton  or squash	31.1% (52)	18.3% (37)	p < 0.005
Jogging	58.9% (132)	49.2% (125)	p < 0.05
Workout/swimming	24.7% (39)	27.3% (56)	NS
Other sport activities	72.0% (159)	65.0% (156)	NS
Degree of physical activity at work
Immobile work activities	57.7% (198)	53.1% (225)	NS
Varied and mobile	33.8% (116)	40.3% (171)	NS
Physical heavy	8.5% (29)	6.6% (28)	NS

Table II.  Measurements of hormones in different age-groups.

Variables	Age group			p
	35 YY	45 YY	All men
	n = 45	n = 42	n = 87
BT (nmol/L)	8.10 ± 1.91	6.70 ± 1.78	7.42 ± 1.97	<0.001
T (nmol/L)	16.9 ± 6.46	13.2 ± 4.63	15.1 ± 5.92	<0.005
SHBG (nmol/L)	37.8 ± 17.7	31.8 ± 12.5	34.9 ± 15.6	NS
Albumin (g/L)	44.0 ± 2.47	43.2 ± 2.52	43.6 ± 2.51	NS

BT, Bioavailable testosterone; T, Testosterone; SHBG, Sexual hormone binding globulin.

Table III.  Alcohol intake in relation to BT-categorizes^a.

	Low BT	Median BT	High BT
35 YY
Alcohol intake^b
< weekly	33.3%; n = 9	22.2%; n = 6	44.4%; n = 12
> weekly	n = 0	38.9%; n = 7	61.1%; n = 11
45 YY
Alcohol intake^b
< weekly	27.8%; n = 5	55.6%; n = 10	16.7%; n = 3
> weekly	66.7%; n = 16	20.8%; n = 5	12.5%; n = 3

^aBT concentrations were divided in three categories (thirds) based on the number of the men.

BT category; “low BT” (mean 5.35 ± 0.70 nmol/L).

BT category; “median BT” (mean 7.36 ± 0.53 nmol/L) and BT category; “high BT” (mean 9.64 ± 1.20).

^b“< weekly”; alcohol one to a couple of times every month.

“> weekly”; alcohol intake a couple of times per week or more.

Table IV.  Different symptoms in relation to the age groups (χ²-test).

Variables	Age group		p value
	35 YY n = 342–346	45 YY n = 419–426
Decrease in libido^a	18.3 % (63)	23.0 % (98)	NS
Lack of energy^a	36.2% (125)	44.3% (188)	p ≤ 0.05
Decreased strength and/or endurance^a	41.0 % (141)	47.4% (201)	NS
Loss in height^a	3.5 % (12)	10.7 % (45)	p < 0.0001
Decreased enjoyment of life^a	23.4% (81)	26.5% (113)	NS
Sadness and/or grumpiness^a	24.6% (85)	26.5% (112)	NS
Less strong erections^a	12.5 % (43)	19.5 % (83)	p < 0.01
Deterioration in ability to play sports^a,b	18.9% (60)	27.8% (105)	p < 0.01
Falling asleep after dinner^a	10.8% (37)	18.5% (79)	p < 0.005
Deterioration in work performance^a	23.9% (82)	37.9% (159)	p < 0.0001
Dry eyes	9.9% (34)	14.9% (63)	p < 0.05
Dry and/or fragile skin	31.6% (303)	28.2% (119)	NS
Muscular/skeletal pain	17.8% (61)	24.9% (106)	p < 0.05
Decreased need to shave	2.9% (10)	5.4% (23)	NS
Hot flushes:
A few times a week or more	2.3% (8)	5.9% (25)	p < 0.05

^aA question included in the ADAM-questionnaire.

^bOnly of all men that ever have exercised regularly, i.e. 317 35 YY and 378 45 YY.