Longitudinal Trends of AMS and IIEF-5 Scores in Randomly-Selected Community Men 40 to 80 Years Old: Preliminary Results

Abstract

Introduction: Most of conclusions on the relationship between age and reproductive health in aging men relied on cross-sectional data.

Aim: To better characterize the natural degradation trajectory of reproductive health of aging men based on longitudinal data.

Methods: A community cohort study was performed in randomly selected men 40 to 80 years old, initiated in 2012 and followed up in 2014 and 2016. Participants were investigated by face-to-face structured interview, including demographic information and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scales.

Main outcome measures: The differences among the 3 assessments of IIEF-5 and AMS were analyzed, and progression trajectories were traced.

Results: The high degree of variability on AMS and IIEF-5 was evident across individual subjects, as was the variability within individuals. The average IIEF-5 score of 248 subjects decreased from 16.9 to 14.1 during the 4 years, and the total AMS score increased from 22.6-27.0 (P < .001). Longitudinal data, both of individuals and of groups, showed the more rapid increase or decrease on AMS or IIEF-5 scores over 4 years in the 61-70 age group than in other age groups.

Clinical implication: The evidence of the greatest changes on AMS and IIEF-5 scores in the 61-70 age group prompts the importance of early intervention to postpone the degradation of reproductive health.

Strength & limitations: Compared with cross-sectional data, longitudinal data can provide a more natural progression trajectory of reproductive health of aging male individuals. The low follow-up rate might affect the parameter estimation to some extent.

Conclusion: Cohort data over 4 years' follow-up showed more abrupt changes on AMS and IIEF-5 scores in the 61-70 age group than in other age groups. Zheng J-B, Liang Q-F, Li J-H, et al. Longitudinal Trends of AMS and IIEF-5 Scores in Randomly-Selected Community Men 40 to 80 Years Old: Preliminary Results. J Sex Med 2019;16:1567-1573.

Keywords: Aging Males’ Symptoms; Cohort Study; International Index Of Erectile Function; Natural Progression.