Korean J Urol.  2015 Apr;56(4):310-317. 10.4111/kju.2015.56.4.310.

Elderly men over 65 years of age with late-onset hypogonadism benefit as much from testosterone treatment as do younger men

• Saad F
• Yassin A
• Haider A
• Doros G
• Gooren L

• KMID: 2155307
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2015.56.4.310

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate the potential benefits of testosterone administration to elderly men (>65 years) with late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) in comparison with younger men and to assess the safety of testosterone administration to elderly men.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 561 hypogonadal men from two registry studies were divided into age groups of < or =65 years (group Y, n=450; range, 32-65 years) and >65 years (group O, n=111; range, 66-84 years). Following an initial 6-week interval, all men were treated with 3-month injections of parenteral testosterone undecanoate for up to 6 years.
RESULTS
Over the 6 years, there was a progressive decrease of body weight and waist circumference. Beneficial effects on lipids and other metabolic factors and on psychological and sexual functioning progressed over the first 24 to 42 months and were sustained. Rather than a deterioration, there was an improvement of urinary parameters. Prostate volume and prostate-specific antigen increased moderately. Hematocrit levels increased but remained within safe margins.
CONCLUSIONS
The benefits of restoring serum testosterone in men with LOH were not significantly different between men older than 65 years of age and younger men. There were no indications that side effects were more severe in elderly men. The effects on prostate and urinary function and hematocrit were within safe margins. Age itself need not be a contraindication to testosterone treatment of elderly men with LOH.

Keyword

Aging; Body weight; Erectile dysfunction; Hypogonadism; Testosterone

MeSH Terms

Age Factors
Age of Onset
Aged
Androgens/administration & dosage
Anthropometry/methods
Drug Monitoring/methods
Germany
Humans
*Hypogonadism/diagnosis/drug therapy/epidemiology/physiopathology/psychology
Male
Middle Aged
Organ Size
*Prostate/drug effects/pathology
Prostate-Specific Antigen/analysis
Registries
*Sexual Behavior/drug effects/psychology
Testosterone/administration & dosage/*analogs & derivatives
Treatment Outcome
Androgens
Testosterone
Prostate-Specific Antigen

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Serum total testosterone levels in young (≤65 y) and old men (>65 y) receiving treatment with testosterone undecanoate over six years.

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  Fig. 2 International Index of Erectile Function in young (≤65 y) and old men (>65 y) receiving treatment with testosterone undecanoate over six years.

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  Fig. 3 Prostate volume (mL) in young (≤65 y) and old men (>65 y) receiving treatment with testosterone undecanoate over six years.

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  Fig. 4 Serum levels of prostate specific antigen in young (≤65 y) and old men (>65 y) receiving treatment with testosterone undecanoate over six years.

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  Fig. 5 International Prostate Symptom Score in young (≤65 y) and old men (>65 y) receiving treatment with testosterone undecanoate over six years.

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  Fig. 6 Postvoiding residual volume in young (≤65 y) and old men (>65 y) receiving treatment with testosterone undecanoate over six years.

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