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| |  Men With Diabetes, Hypertension, or Hyperlipidemia More Likely to Be Hypogonadal: Presented at AACE By Maggie Schwarz WASHINGTON, DC -- May 25, 2005 -- According to results of the Hypogonadism in Males (HIM) study, men with diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia are also more likely to be hypogonadal than is the general population. Scott Segal, MD, director of men's health at Solvay Pharmaceuticals in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, presented the findings here May 19th at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 14th Annual Meeting and Clinical Congress. "The percentages of men with diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia who also had low testosterone are higher than we would have expected," said Dr. Segal. The HIM study was a 2004 investigation undertaken by Solvay Pharmaceuticals looking at 2,162 men aged 45 years and older in 95 primary care practices nationwide. Dr. Segal noted that only 75% of men in this age group see a physician with any regularity. Blood samples were assayed for total testosterone, free testosterone, and bioavailable testosterone. Patient characteristics that were studied included comorbid conditions, demographics, and reason for presenting to a physician. Patients were queried about the presence of common symptoms associated with hypogonadism, including sexual dysfunction, fatigue or weakness, and mood changes. Hypogonadism was defined as a total testosterone <300 ng/dL. Of the 2,162 men enrolled, 836 (38.7%) had hypogonadism, and 80 were receiving testosterone replacement therapy. In men with a history of diabetes, 50% were hypogonadal. In men with a history of hypertension, 42% were hypogonadal, and in those with a history of hyperlipidaemia, 40% were hypogonadal. A decrease in ability or frequency of sexual performance was reported by 65.5%, 55.8%, and 52.0% of men with a history of either diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia, respectively. Within each group, rates of reporting were significantly higher in hypogonadal versus eugonadal (P less than or equal to .014). Differences in sexual desire or libido (P less than or equal to .014) and physical exhaustion or a lack of vitality (P less than or equal to .023) were statistically significant for hypogonadal versus eugonadal men who were also diagnosed with either diabetes or hyperlipidemia. A decline in general feelings of well-being was significantly different in hypogonadal men with hyperlipidemia versus eugonadal men (P = .011). According to Dr. Segal, the numbers of hypogonadal men with diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia are 10 to 20 points higher than would have been expected. "These numbers mean that physicians should check testosterone levels in these men with risk factors for the metabolic syndrome," he concluded. "Testosterone insufficiency is not only associated with sexual dysfunction, but exhaustion and lack of vitality. Their quality of life could be improved with replacement therapy."
[Presentation title: Association of Testosterone Deficiency and Symptoms With Diabetes, Hypertension, and Hyperlipidemia: Data From the Hypogonadism in Males (HIM) Study. Abstract 790.]
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