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Faculty
Andre B. Araujo, PhD
Vice President, Epidemiology
New England Research Institutes, Inc.
Watertown, Massachusetts

Allen D. Seftel, MD
Head, Division of Urology
Professor of Urology
Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine
Camden, New Jersey

Intended Audience
This activity was developed for endocrinologists, urologists, primary care physicians, cardiologists, and specialists interested in the management and treatment of hypogonadism.

Statement of Need
Hypogonadism is an underdiagnosed and therefore undertreated condition of men that can be associated with serious comorbid conditions. In light of these facts, screening, recognition, and treatment should be encouraged for any provider seeing men who are at risk.

Extrapolation of 2003 census data suggests that 13.8 million men aged ≥45 years visiting primary care physicians (PCPs) in the United States may have low testosterone levels, yet fewer than 10% of these men are being treated. In the Boston Area Community Health (BACH) survey, only 12.2% of all androgen-deficient men were being treated despite adequate access to healthcare.

Reported prevalences vary among studies depending on the population being studied, the definition of hypogonadism used, and the methodology; however, hypogonadism is becoming increasingly prevalent with the aging of the US population. The overall prevalence of hypogonadism was reported to be 6% at baseline in data from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS). Of the 1691 men in that study for whom complete testosterone data were available at baseline, 561 were aged 40 to 49 years, 558 were aged 50 to 59, and 572 were aged 60 to 70. During the follow-up phase (n=1087; mean follow-up interval, 8.8 y; range, 7.0-10.4 y), the overall prevalence doubled to 12.3%. In data from the BACH survey, the reported prevalence of hypogonadism was 5.6% (N=1475; mean age, 47.3 y).

As the first line of defense in healthcare delivery, PCPs need to be vigilant in diagnosing and treating symptomatic hypogonadism. It is critical for PCPs to recognize the signs and symptoms of hypogonadism prior to choosing appropriate interventions. Hypogonadism is associated with an array of signs and symptoms, many of them subtle and nonspecific, and is associated with several serious comorbid conditions, such as diabetes and osteoporosis. In addition, mounting evidence indicates that low testosterone levels are associated with premature cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular events, and cardiac death, as well as increased all-cause mortality. In a well-designed population-based study of men aged 50 to 91 years (mean, 73.6 y), Laughlin et al found a >40% increased risk of mortality among men in the lowest quartile of total testosterone or bioavailable testosterone compared with the highest quartile. Despite compelling evidence, many clinicians are not aware of the connections between testosterone, comorbid conditions, and overall health.

Educational Objectives
Upon completion of the activity, participants should be better able to…

  1. Define the prevalence of hypogonadism, an underdiagnosed serious, chronic medical condition that is associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease and may lead to increased morbidity
  2. Differentiate between the available hypogonadism screening questionnaires in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and validation according to FDA standards for patient-reported outcomes
  3. Incorporate into clinical practice diagnostic criteria and screening tools to evaluate the management and treatment of symptomatic hypogonadism

Accreditation and Certification
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower and CogniMed Inc. The Annenberg Center is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower designates this enduring material for a maximum of .5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

There is no charge for this activity. Statements of Credit will be provided by mail following activity participation and upon completion and return of the evaluation form by mail to TestosteroneUpdate, c/o CogniMed Inc., 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 200, Livingston, NJ 07039, or by fax to 877-403-5765. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for the delivery of your statement.

Disclosure Statement
It is the policy of the Annenberg Center to ensure fair balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all programming. All faculty participating in sponsored programs are expected to identify and reference
off-label product use and disclose any significant relationships with those supporting the activity or any others whose products or services are discussed. The faculty for this activity have disclosed that there will be discussion about the use of products for non–FDA-approved indications.

In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education standards, parallel documents from other accrediting bodies, and Annenberg Center policy, the following disclosures have been made:

All staff at the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower have nothing to disclose.

All staff at CogniMed Inc. have nothing to disclose.

Andre B. Araujo, PhD, receives research support from Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. and is a consultant for Lilly USA.

Allen D. Seftel, MD, is a consultant for Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Lilly; Pfizer Inc; Sanofi-Aventis; and Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and serves on the speakers bureau of Lilly.

The ideas and opinions presented in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Annenberg Center and/or its agents. As in all educational activities, we encourage the practitioners to use their own judgment in treating and addressing the needs of each individual patient, taking into account that patient’s unique clinical situation. The Annenberg Center disclaims all liability and cannot be held responsible for any problems that may arise from participating in this activity or following treatment recommendations presented.

This activity is supported by an independent educational grant provided by Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.

This activity is a Clinical Consult and consists of a question and two-part response. Successful completion is achieved by reading the material, reflecting on its implications in your practice, and completing the assessment component.

The estimated time to complete this activity is .5 hour.

This activity was originally released January 31, 2011, and is eligible for credit through January 31, 2012.

This piece was written and reviewed by faculty members. Faculty have final editorial control over the piece.


© 2011 CogniMed Inc. All rights reserved.                       TU13125/ACHS 4720                       January 2011