(066) THE CORRELATION BETWEEN TOTAL AND FREE TESTOSTERONE LEVELS AND SELF-REPORTED SYMPTOMS IN MEN WITH LOW TESTOSTERONE LEVELS

Abstract Introduction The diagnosis of testosterone (T) deficiency requires the presence of a cluster of symptoms and/or signs combined with a documented a low total T level. Objective We aimed to evaluate the associations of low total and free T with self-reported symptoms. Methods The study population included men who (i) completed a survey assessing 11 low T symptoms (low energy, afternoon fatigue, reduced strength/endurance, reduced exercise response, reduced work productivity, muscle loss, fat gain, irritability, feeling depressed, and cognitive problems) during the initial office assessment (ii) had T assessment using LCMS and (iii) had free T measured by equilibrium dialysis (iv) conducted within one month of survey completion. Men with prior previous T treatment were excluded. Low T was defined as total T < 300 ng/dl. Spearman’s correlation assessed the relationship between the number of reported symptoms and total T and free T levels. This analysis was performed for the entire cohort (n = 467) and a sub-analysis excluded patients who reported sleep apnea (n = 262). Results 467 men were included. Median age was 63 (57, 70) years old. 14% had diabetes, 44% had OSA, and 28% reported ≥3 comorbidities. Median total T was 358 (258-486) ng/dL, median free T 10 (7-13) ng/dL. 35% had low T. Median T symptom number was 3 (0, 6). 30% reported ≥6 symptoms. The most prevalent symptoms reported were feeling tired (53%), low energy (47%), reduced exercise response (39%), reduced strength (38%), and muscle loss (37%). Spearman’s correlation analysis showed a small significant negative correlation for both total T and free T to the number of self-reported symptoms (Table). Conclusions While statistically significant, the correlations were very weak suggesting that in men with low T levels, there appears to be little correlation between symptomatology and T levels, supporting the non-specificity of these symptoms. Disclosure No.