Serum sex hormone-binding globulin is associated with symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism in aging rural males: a community-based study
Guoqing Liang
A * , Yuxuan Song A * , Xiao Wang A , Jianhui Li B , Huijuan Shi B , Qianxi Zhu B , Junbiao Zheng C , Xiaohua Yu C , Zheng Li D , Shucheng Zhang E , Zengguang Wang F G and Xiaoqiang Liu A G
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Urology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
B Department of Reproductive Epidemiology and Social Science, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
C Department of Urology, The First People’s Hospital of Jiashan, Zhejiang 314100, China.
D Department of Andrology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China.
E Department of Cell Biology, National Research Institute of Family Planning, Beijing 100081, China.
F Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
G Corresponding authors. Emails: xiaoqiangliu1@163.com; 18270884462@163.com
Sexual Health 18(2) 156-161 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH20201
Submitted: 6 December 2020 Accepted: 14 January 2021 Published: 15 March 2021
Abstract
Background: To investigate whether serum levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and testosterone are associated with symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism (SLOH) in middle-aged and elderly rural Chinese males. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Zhejiang rural communities. A total of 965 men (aged 40–80 years) were admitted to the aging males’ symptoms (AMS) scale and related physical examinations including body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were conducted. Serum total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and serum lipid levels were measured separately. Serum level of bioavailable testosterone (Bio-T) was calculated. Results: A total of 965 participants were divided into two groups, symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism (SLOH) group (n = 202) (AMS score ≥27) and control group (n = 763), according to total AMS score. Men in the SLOH group were older (61.57±9.06 vs 54.95±8.27 years) and had a smaller waist circumference (81.06±6.89 vs 82.54±6.60 cm) than those in the control group. Moreover, a relatively higher level of SHBG and lower levels of FT, Bio-T, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (T-CHOL) were found in the SLOH group compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) analysis showed that age (AUC = 0.702, P < 0.001) and SHBG (AUC = 0.617, P < 0.001) were potential predictive indicators for SLOH diagnosis, with the best cut-off values of 59 years for age and 44.40 nmol/L for SHBG. Conclusions: SHBG might be a potential predictor in men with hypogonadism, whereas BMI had no proportionality to the measurement of AMS. Age and SHBG should be used for SLOH diagnosis.
Keywords: hypogonadism, aging, waist circumference, sex hormone-binding globulin, testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, SLOH, LOH, men’s health.
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