Prevalence of andropause among Iranian men and its relationship with quality of life

The severity of andropause symptoms and its relationship with social well-being among retired male nurses: a preliminary cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Andropause is a syndrome that occurs due to decreased androgen levels in men. Various aspects of health, such as social well-being, can affect andropause status during men's retirement. This study aimed to determine the severity of andropause symptoms and its relationship with social well-being among retired male nurses.

METHODS

This preliminary cross-sectional study was conducted on 284 retired male nurses in Ardabil (northwest of Iran). The participants were selected through the census sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic information form, the Male Andropause Symptoms Self-Assessment Questionnaire (MASSQ), and the Social Well-Being Scale (SWBS). Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 22.0).

RESULTS

The study found that the overall mean scores of the severity of andropause symptoms and social well-being among retired male nurses were 57.24 ± 12.62 (range = 35-91) and 94.54 ± 12.77 (range = 75-123), respectively. The highest and lowest mean scores between dimensions of social well-being were related to social contribution (20.26 ± 2.47) and social acceptance (15.26 ± 2.77), respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that subscales of social well-being, age, marital status, and spouse's menopause were predictors of the severity of andropause symptoms among retired male nurses. The selected predictors accounted for 53.1% of the total variance in severity of andropause symptoms (F = 36.613, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The results showed a moderate to severe prevalence of andropause among retired male nurses and a significant association between andropause and social well-being. The study suggests further research to examine sexual orientation and other factors that may affect andropause in retired male nurses.

The Prevalence of Andropause and Its Relationship With Sexual Quality of Life Among Older Iranian Men

Available evidence indicates insufficient knowledge about the status of andropause and sexual quality of life among Iranian older men. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of andropause and its relationship with sexual quality among older adults. This descriptive-analytical study was conducted among 576 older people referred to urban health centers in Mashhad, Iran. The eligible samples were selected through the cluster sampling method. To collect data, the male andropause symptoms' self-assessment questionnaire and the sexual quality of life-male were used. Forty-seven of the respondents (n = 271) were diagnosed with a "moderate" level of andropause. A strong negative correlation was identified between the sexual quality of life and the severity of andropause (r = -.366, p < .001). Sexual quality of life and andropause was also affected by age, marital status, health status, and exercise. Thirty-six percent of the changes in the quality of sexual life of older men were influenced by the independent variables (adjusted R² = .36; R² = .40; R = .63). The findings indicated that andropause has highly prevailed among the participants. There was a meaningful association between andropause and sexual quality of life among older men. Further studies are recommended to investigate sexual orientation qualitatively and to discover other factors influencing andropause among adult men.

Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Male Andropause Symptoms Self-Assessment Questionnaire

Objective

This study was planned to examine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Male Andropause Symptoms Self-Assessment Questionnaire (MASS-Q).

Materials and Methods

One hundred and twenty-five men with a mean age of 54.24 ± 6.51 years participated in the study. First, participants' demographic data were recorded. Then, the MASS-Q was adapted to Turkish. The assess the reliability and validity of the Turkish MASS-Q, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and criterion validity analyses were administered. For the reliability test, the scale was readministered 1 week later. Test-retest reliability was examined with the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Internal consistency was defined by Cronbach's alpha. Regarding the validity analysis, content validity was determined according to expert opinions. For criterion validity, the Aging Male Symptoms-Questionnaire (AMS-Q) was used.

Results

According to the results of the analysis, the ICC values between the test-retest scores of the total and subdimensions (sexual, somatic, psychic, and behavior) of the MASS-Q were found to be 0.987, 0.939, 0.973, 0.951, and 0.887, respectively (P < 0.05). Cronbach's alpha values of the total and subdimensions (sexual, somatic, psychic, and behavior) of the MASS-Q were calculated as 0.924, 0.870, 0.747, 0.865, and 0.667, respectively. According to the ICC values obtained, it was found that the MASS-Q had a high degree of reliability. According to the internal consistency results, the sexual and psychic subdimensions were found to be quite reliable, whereas the somatic and behavioral subdimensions were found to be sufficiently reliable. According to the criterion validity results, a very high and high correlations were found between the AMS-Q scores and the MASS-Q scores (r = 0.636-0.938, P = 0.001).

Conclusion

As a result, it was determined that the Turkish version of the MASS-Q is a valid and reliable scale that can be used in Turkish men.

Regular aerobic exercise improves sexual function assessed by the Aging Males' Symptoms questionnaire in adult men

The leading cause of aging-induced male-specific disorders such as physical, mental and/or sexual symptoms is testosterone deficiency. Although aerobic exercise is suggested to improves circulating testosterone levels, physical fitness, depressive symptoms, and sexual function, the effect of regular aerobic exercise on aging-induced disorders has not yet been clarified. Here we performed cross-sectional and interventional studies to identify the effect of aerobic exercise on aging-induced disorders assessed by the Aging Males' Symptoms questionnaire (AMS). In study 1, the relationship between aerobic exercise capacity (i.e. peak oxygen consumption) and AMS scores were cross-sectionally examined in 169 adult men. In study 2, the effect of a 12-week regular aerobic exercise on AMS scores was longitudinally investigated in 18 adult men. In study 1, the AMS-total, AMS-somatic, AMS-psychological, and AMS-sexual scores were significantly correlated to aerobic exercise capacity even after considering age and testosterone levels. In study 2, 12-week aerobic exercise training significantly improved AMS-sexual and tended to improve AMS-total scores. Additionally, an increase in vigorous physical activity was correlated to improve in the AMS-sexual score. These results suggest that regular aerobic exercise is an effective strategy to improve aging-induced disorders in men.

Correlation IMA with TIMI frame count in slow coronary flow: can it be a guide for treatment?

AIM

Coronary slow flow (CSF) is defined as late opacification in epicardial coronary arteries with no significant stenosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) by using Spectrophotometer in CSF.

METHODS

Level of IMA was measured by spectrophotometer. CSF patients were chosen for the determination of IMA level. All obtained data were compared with control groups.

RESULTS

Serum IMA levels increased in the CSF group. It was observed that there was a significant increase in IMA levels in patients with CSF when compared to controls (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

IMA may play a role in the pathogenesis of CSF. IMA levels in the serum can be considered as a marker to predict coronary slow flow. IMA level can be used as a guide for coronary slow flow. Also, as increases number square frame, value IMA Increases similarly. It was found that the severity of impotence was correlated with CSF. Therefore, the IMA level may be predictive of the course of treatment. This study is the first one to show the relationships of IMA in CSF. In addition, further studies should be performed on IMA in CSF patients.

Effect of education about andropause health on level of the knowledge and attitude of men referring to the education and training retirement center of Shiraz

Introduction and objective: With the world's older population continuing to grow, andropause (male menopause or late-onset hypogonadism) is considered as one of the most important issues of this era. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of andropause health education on the level of knowledge and attitude of retired men.Methods: This controlled trial was conducted on 80 retired men (40 in intervention group, 40 in control group), who had been employed by the Department of Education, Shiraz, Iran. Data collection tool was a 38-item questionnaire, designed by the researcher, on participants' knowledge and attitude about andropause. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 22 and statistical tests such as independent and paired t tests were used.Findings: There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups before the intervention. There was a significant difference in knowledge and attitude scores in each group immediately and 1 month after the intervention. The mean score of knowledge in the intervention group increased from 2.92 ± 1.68 before to 16.22 ± 1.34 after the intervention, and the attitude score increased from 14.9 ± 1.08 to 28.52 ± 1.44. Comparison of the two groups and repeated score analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups over the time (p < .001).Conclusion: Educational intervention improved the knowledge and attitude of retired men toward andropause, which can have a positive impact on the timely recognition and proper treatment of the complications of andropause.

Determinants of self-reported functional status (EPIC-26) in prostate cancer patients prior to treatment

PURPOSE

The self-reported functional status (sr-FS) of prostate cancer (PCa) patients varies substantially between patients and health-care providers before treatment. Information about this issue is important for evaluating comparisons between health-care providers and to assist in treatment decision-making. There have been few reports on correlates of pretherapeutic sr-FS. The objective of the article, therefore, is to describe clinical and sociodemographic correlates of pretherapeutic sr-FS, based on a subset of the TrueNTH Global Registry, a prospective cohort study.

METHODS

A total of 3094 PCa patients receiving local treatment in 44 PCa centers in Germany were recruited between July 2016 and April 2018. Multilevel regression models were applied to predict five pretherapeutic sr-FS (EPIC-26) scores based on clinical characteristics (standard set suggested by the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement), sociodemographic characteristics, and center characteristics.

RESULTS

Impaired pretherapeutic sr-FS tended to be associated with lower educational level and poorer disease characteristics-except for "urinary incontinence" which was only associated with age. Notably, age was a risk factor ("urinary incontinence," "urinary irritative/obstructive," "sexual") as well as a protective factor ("hormonal") for pretherapeutic sr-FS. Pretherapeutic sr-FS varies little across centers.

CONCLUSIONS

Pretherapeutic sr-FS varies by clinical patient characteristics and age as well as by socioeconomic status. The findings point out the benefit of collecting and considering socioeconomic information in addition to clinical and demographic patient characteristics for treatment decision-making and fair comparisons between health-care providers.