Impaired emotional state, quality of life and cognitive functions in young hypogonadal men

The study aimed to analyse emotional state, quality of life and cognitive functions in young hypogonadal men. Thirty-four males with hypogonadism (age 29.1 +/- 10.5years) and 34 age-matched healthy males (age 30.5 +/- 11.0years) were recruited. Their emotional state was evaluated by Profile of Mood States, quality of life - by WHO Brief Quality of Life Questionnaire - and cognitive functioning - by Trail Making Test and Digit Span Test of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. It was found that young men with hypogonadism had higher depression-dejection (13.1 +/- 8.8 versus 7.4 +/- 5.9, P=0.003), fatigue-inertia (10.0 +/- 5.8 versus 7.0 +/- 4.9, P=0.030), confusion-bewilderment (5.1 +/- 4.6 versus 2.3 +/- 3.1, P=0.004) and lower vigour-activity (14.3 +/- 5.1 versus 17.7 +/- 4.3, P=0.008) levels than age- and sex-matched controls. Quality of life psychological (13.1 +/- 2.8 versus 15.1 +/- 1.9, P=0.005) and social (13.6 +/- 2.4 versus 15.7 +/- 2.0, P<0.001) domains were significantly worse in men with hypogonadism than in controls. Cognitive functions were significantly worse (P<0.001) in men with hypogonadism than in controls, showing worse executive function, attention, visual scanning abilities and psychomotor speed. A significant correlation was found between testosterone concentration and quality of life psychological domain. Cognitive functioning scores were significantly related with FT4 concentration. It is concluded that young hypogonadal patients have impaired emotional state and quality of life, but the most severe impairment was found in cognitive functioning.