The Relationship Between Health-Related Quality of Life and Anabolic Hormone Levels in Middle-Aged and Elderly Men With Prediabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between men with prediabetes (PD) and a control group as well as to investigate the relationship between HRQoL and anabolic hormones. The analysis was carried out in 176 middle-aged (40–59 years) and elderly (60 80 years) men with PD, and 184 control peers. PD was defined according the American Diabetes Association and HRQoL was assessed by the SF-36 questionnaire. Total testosterone (TT), calculated free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were measured. Analysis of the standardized physical and mental component summary scores (SF-36 _p and SF-36 _m) revealed that patients with PD had lower SF-36 _p and SF-36 _m than control group ( p < .02 and p < .001). Middle-aged men with PD had lower SF-36 _p and SF-36 _m than control peers, whereas elderly men with PD had lower only SF-36 _p. In men with PD negative correlations between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and SF-35 _m score ( r = −0.3768; p = .02) and between HbA1c and SF-36 _p score ( r = −0.3453; p = .01) were reported. In middle-aged prediabetic men, SF-36 _p was associated with high free testosterone and low HbA1c while SF-36 _m with high TT and high DHEAS. In elderly patients with PD, SF-36 _p was associated with high TT, high IGF-1, and low HbA1c, while SF-36 _m correlated with high free testosterone and high DHEAS. In conclusion, PD in men is associated with decreased HRQoL in comparison with healthy men, and generally better quality of life is associated with higher testosterone, higher free testosterone, higher DHEAS, and lower HbA1c.