“adam and Ams Scale for Assessing Andropause among Aging Indian Men”

Objective: According to Indian Census 2011, India has 9% of population above the age of 60 years. Since andropause related effects are gradual and mimic many disease processes, clinical diagnosis is difficult to make. Very few studies have been done in North India to assess the awareness about andropause in males, which is why this study was conceived. To assess the awareness and knowledge about Andropause and its treatment modalities in males of Chandigarh. Methods: The present study was conducted at Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC-44 B) of Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh (GMCH) in male patients attending outpatient department. This non-interventional, individual cross sectional study was done from Aug 2010Aug 2011 in males 40 years and above. Systematic random sampling was done and study sample comprised of 757 males. The subjects were given pre-structured and pre-tested questionnaire that had questions pertaining to socio-demographic profile, Ageing Men Score scale (AMS scale), ADAM scale (Androgen Decline in Ageing Men), views about andropause and its treatment modalities. Results: Maximum subjects were from age group 40-49yrs (342; 45.17%), followed by those in age group of 60-69 years (141; 18.6%). 530 respondents (70%) indicated previous awareness regarding andropause or male menopause. Among andropause aware subjects, 440 (83.02%) respondents had poor knowledge about andropause and only 90 (16.98%) test takers actually had good knowledge about andropause. Age and marital status had little effect on knowledge of andropause. 627 (82.82%) had symptoms positive for andropause. Only 123 (19.61%) respondents were aware of treatment for andropause, 158 (25.21%) were willing to take treatment for andropause in form of testosterone injections or transdermal patches when informed about treatment options by health care workers. 360 (57.41%) respondents believed that healthy diet, exercise, herbal medications, Viagra and/or multivitamins can be used to treat andropause and refused to take testosterone injections. Remaining 239 (38.11%) respondents were not able to decide whether they want to take any treatment for andropause. Conclusion: Though awareness about andropause was seen among most men but the study shows the need for provision of health education to increase the knowledge of andropause among adult males.