The relationship of the sex hormone levels with quality of life and nutritional status in middle-aged and elderly hospitalized men / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the effects of the changes of sex hormone levels on quality of life and nutritional status in middle-aged and elderly hospitalized men.Methods A total of 150 male patients (aged 45-90 years) were divided into 3 groups according to age45-59-year (the middle-aged group),60-79 year (the elderly group),and over 80 year (the old old group) (n=50,each group).Levels of serum testosterone,follicle stimulating hormone (FSH),and luteinizing hormone (LH)were detected.The questionnaire (SF-36) and micro-nutrient assessment table (MNA) were conducted.Results Serum testosterone level was significantly lower in the old old group than in the elderly group and middle-aged group [(10.5±2.5) pmol/L vs.(13.1±2.0) pmol/L and (15.6±3.2) pmol/L,respectively,P＜ 0.05].Levels of FSH and LH were significantly higher in the old old group than in the elderly group and middle-aged group [(15.5±7.7)U/L vs.(12.7±5.1)U/L and (9.5±2.9)U/L,(9.8±3.7)U/L vs.(7.8±3.2)U/L and (5.4±2.0) U/L,respectively,P＜0.05].The 8 health latitude scores of SF-36 scale and nutritional status scores were significantly lower in the old old group than in the elderly group and middle-aged group (all P＜0.05).Relation analysis sho wed that age had a negative correlation with serum testocterone level (r=-0.389,P＜0.05),and had positive correlations with the levels of serum FSH and LH (r=0.427,r=0.520,both P＜0.05).After adjusting for age,serum testocterone level was positively correlated with physical functioning,role of physical activity,body pain,general health,vitality,mental health and nutritional status in SF-36 health scale (all P＜0.05),and had no obvious correlation with social function and emotional function health dimensions (all P＞0.05).Conclusions The sex hormone levels are changed with age,which can seriously affect the health state in middle-aged and elderly hospitalized men.