Male Sexual and Reproductive Health-Does the Urologist Have a Role in Addressing Gender Inequality in Life Expectancy?

Age-related decline in total testosterone levels among young men: insights from a large single-center observational study

We aimed to depict the age-specific distribution of total Testosterone (tT) levels among young men presenting to a single academic centre with uro-andrological complaints. Overall, tT levels from 2593 men aged 20-44 years were analyzed. Men were grouped into 'infertile men' and 'men with sexual dysfunction (SD)' according to their primary complaints. Data was also collected from 71 same-ethnicity age-comparable fertile controls. Linear regression fitted the relationship between tT and increasing age. Distribution of tT was determined for each 5-year age-group, both for the overall population and the subgroups. tT quantiles were reported for each sample sub-group and age-group. Of 2664 men, 1913 (71.81%) were classified as infertile, 680 (25.52%) with SD and 71 as fertile men (2.67%), respectively. tT levels depicted a reduction of 0.14 nmol/L per year between 20 and 44 years of age (p < 0.001) within the overall study population. Significant reduction was also observed for the population stratified by urological complaints (all p < 0.05). This is the first study to describe tT levels as a function of baseline clinical status in a large same-ethnicity cohort of young men, uniformly assessed using a standardized laboratory method.

Healthy life expectancy with cardiovascular disease among Chinese rural population based on the prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Limited research has explored the impact of cardiovascular disease (CVD) on healthy life expectancy (HLE) especially in resource-limited areas. This study aimed to investigate the association between CVD and HLE in Chinese rural population.

METHODS

This study included 11,994 participants aged 45 years and older from the baseline and follow-up surveys of the Henan rural cohort study. Healthy status was measured via a Visual Analogue Scale. The multistate Markov model was applied to estimate the association between CVD and transitions in health, unhealthiness and death. Gender-specific total life expectancy, HLE and unhealthy life expectancy were calculated by the multistate life table method.

RESULTS

During a mean follow-up time of 3.85 (3.84-3.86) years, there were 588 deaths recorded. For individuals with CVD, the risk of switching from health to unhealthiness status was increased by 71% [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.42-2.07], the chance of recovery was reduced by 30% (HR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.60-0.82). Men aged 45 years without CVD could gain an extra 7.08 (4.15-10.01) years of HLE and lose 4.00 (1.60-6.40) years of unhealthy life expectancy compared to their peers with CVD, respectively. The corresponding estimates among women were 8.62 (5.55-11.68) years and 5.82 (2.59-9.04) years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicated that CVD was significantly associated with poorer health status and lower HLE among Chinese rural population. It is an important public health policy to adopt targeted measures to reduce the CVD burden and enhance the quality of life and HLE in resource-limited areas.

Are sex disparities in COVID-19 a predictable outcome of failing men's health provision?

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, has taken a catastrophic toll on society, health-care systems and the economy. Notably, COVID-19 has been shown to be associated with a higher mortality rate in men than in women. This disparity is likely to be a consequence of a failure to invest in men’s health, as it has also been established that men have a lower life expectancy and poorer outcomes from non-communicable diseases than women. A variety of biological, social and economic factors have contributed to the sex disparities in mortality from COVID-19. A streamlined men’s health programme — with the urologist as the gatekeeper of men’s health — is needed to help prevent future tragedies of this nature.

COVID-19 has been shown to be associated with a higher mortality rate in men than in women. In this Perspectives article, the authors posit that this disparity is due to a failure to invest in men’s health and discuss the biological, social and economic factors that have contributed to the sex disparities in mortality from COVID-19, as well as considering how a streamlined men’s health programme with the urologist in a central role could address these issues.

European Association of Urology Guidelines on Male Sexual and Reproductive Health: 2021 Update on Male Infertility

CONTEXT

The European Association of Urology (EAU) has updated its guidelines on sexual and reproductive health for 2021.

OBJECTIVE

To present a summary of the 2021 version of the EAU guidelines on sexual and reproductive health, including advances and areas of controversy in male infertility.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

The panel performed a comprehensive literature review of novel data up to January 2021. The guidelines were updated and a strength rating for each recommendation was included that was based either on a systematic review of the literature or consensus opinion from the expert panel, where applicable.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

The male partner in infertile couples should undergo a comprehensive urological assessment to identify and treat any modifiable risk factors causing fertility impairment. Infertile men are at a higher risk of harbouring and developing other diseases including malignancy and cardiovascular disease and should be screened for potential modifiable risk factors, such as hypogonadism. Sperm DNA fragmentation testing has emerged as a novel biomarker that can identify infertile men and provide information on the outcomes from assisted reproductive techniques. The role of hormone stimulation therapy in hypergonadotropic hypogonadal or eugonadal patients is controversial and is not recommended outside of clinical trials. Furthermore, there is insufficient evidence to support the widespread use of other empirical treatments and surgical interventions in clinical practice (such as antioxidants and surgical sperm retrieval in men without azoospermia). There is low-quality evidence to support the routine use of testicular fine-needle mapping as an alternative diagnostic and predictive tool before testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), and either conventional or microdissection TESE remains the surgical modality of choice for men with NOA.

CONCLUSIONS

All infertile men should undergo a comprehensive urological assessment to identify and treat any modifiable risk factors. Increasing data indicate that infertile men are at higher risk of cardiovascular mortality and of developing cancers and should be screened and counselled accordingly. There is low-quality evidence supporting the use of empirical treatments and interventions currently used in clinical practice; the efficacy of these therapies needs to be validated in large-scale randomised controlled trials.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Approximately 50% of infertility will be due to problems with the male partner. Therefore, all infertile men should be assessed by a specialist with the expertise to not only help optimise their fertility but also because they are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and cancer long term and therefore require appropriate counselling and management. There are many treatments and interventions for male infertility that have not been validated in high-quality studies and caution should be applied to their use in routine clinical practice.

Risk of health status worsening in primary infertile men: a prospective 10-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

A severe male infertility factor has been associated with both lower health status and increased mortality in infertile men.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate reproductive factors associated with health status impairment in infertile men over a 10-year time frame since first clinical evaluation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from 899 infertile men were analysed at baseline between 2003 and 2010. Health-significant comorbidities were scored with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Patients were followed-up yearly recording any worsening in their health status until 2019. Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of CCI score increase.

RESULTS

At a median follow-up of 136 months (IQR 121, 156), 85 men (9.5%) depicted an increase of their baseline CCI score of at least 1 point. The most frequent reason for CCI upgrade was cancer (34%), cardio-vascular diseases (29%) and diabetes mellitus (22%). Compared to patients without a CCI increase, patients with a CCI increase presented with higher BMI and FSH values, a higher rate of baseline CCI ≥ 1 (all p < 0.01) and a greater proportion of non-obstructive azoospermia (p < 0.001). In the Cox regression model, patient's BMI (p < 0.001), baseline CCI ≥ 1 (p < 0.01) and azoospermia status (p = 0.001) were found to be independently associated with CCI increases.

CONCLUSIONS

Almost 10% of men presenting for primary infertility had a decrease of the overall health status already in the relatively short 10-year time frame after first presentation. Non-obstructive azoospermic men showed the worst health status impairment and should be strictly followed-up regardless of their fertility status. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Infertile couples still undergo assisted reproductive treatments without initial andrological evaluation in the real-life setting: A failure to adhere to guidelines?

BACKGROUND

The EAU Guidelines on Male Sexual and Reproductive Health state that both partners of the infertile couple should undergo simultaneous investigation.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prevalence and the characteristics of infertile men who were referred for an andrological evaluation after failed attempts of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) with those who were evaluated at the beginning of their infertility pathway at a single academic centre over a 17-year period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data of 3213 primary infertile couples assessed between 2003 and 2020 were analysed. Descriptive statistics compared the overall characteristics of male partners of couples with (+ART) or without (-ART) previous ART prior to andrological consultation. Logistic regression models analysed variables associated with +ART. Local polynomial regression models explored the probability of +ART over the analysed time frame.

RESULTS

Of all, 493 (15.3%) participants were +ART. Patients and female partners' age were higher in +ART couples (all p≤0.04). Sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility and normal sperm morphology were lower in +ART than in -ART patients (all p<0.001), along with a greater percentage of non-obstructive azoospermia in +ART compared to -ART men (p<0.0001). At univariable analysis, patient age and partner age >35 years and a less recent assessment were associated with +ART status (all p≤0.04). Male age and less recent years of assessment were also independent predictors of +ART, after accounting for partner's age >35 years (all p<0.01). A not significant decrease of this pattern was observed throughout the last 7 years at local polynomial regression models.

DISCUSSION

Overall awareness towards the importance of a comprehensive evaluation for the male partner of every infertile couple should therefore be further strengthened.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately 15% of couples still undergo ART without any initial andrological evaluation in the real-life setting. A not significant decrease in this trend was observed over most recent years. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Non-obstructive azoospermia: current and future perspectives

Infertility affects 1 in 6 couples, and male factor infertility has been implicated as a cause in 50% of cases. Azoospermia is defined as the absence of spermatozoa in the ejaculate and is considered the most extreme form of male factor infertility. Historically, these men were considered sterile but, with the advent of testicular sperm extraction and assisted reproductive technologies, men with azoospermia are able to biologically father their own children. Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) occurs when there is an impairment to spermatogenesis. This review describes the contemporary management of NOA and discusses the role of hormone stimulation therapy, surgical and embryological factors, and novel technologies such as proteomics, genomics, and artificial intelligence systems in the diagnosis and treatment of men with NOA. Moreover, we highlight that men with NOA represent a vulnerable population with an increased risk of developing cancer and cardiovascular comorbodities.

Self-Rated Healthy Life Expectancy Changes in Jiangxi Province of China by Gender and Urban-Rural Differences, 2013-2018

Background: Globalization has brought about rapid economic and technological development, and life expectancy (LE) is constantly increasing. However, it is not clear whether an increase in LE will result in an increase in healthy life expectancy (HLE). This study evaluates trends in the self-rated healthy life expectancy (SRHLE) of residents aged 15 and older in Jiangxi Province of China from 2013 to 2018 and analyzes gender differences and urban-rural differences. This study provides a basis for the formulation of relevant public health policies. Methods: Based on two National Health Services Survey databases of Jiangxi in 2013 and 2018 as well as infant mortality rates and under-5 mortality rates from the Health Commission of Jiangxi, the Sullivan method was used to calculate SRHLE. The changes in SRHLE were decomposed into health and mortality effects using the decomposition method. Results: SRHLE decreased from 56.55 to 55.54 years and from 60.00 to 57.87 years for men and women aged 15 from 2013 to 2018, respectively. The SRHLE of women aged 15 was 3.45 and 2.34 years longer than that of men in 2013 and 2018, respectively. The SRHLE of urban men aged 15 was 2.9 and 4.46 years longer than that of rural men in 2013 and 2018, respectively, and that of urban women aged 15 was 3.28 and 5.57 years longer than that of rural women. Conclusions: The decreased SRHLE indicated that the self-rated health (SRH) status of residents in Jiangxi has worsened, and it provided evidence for the expansion of morbidity, mainly due to the increased prevalence of chronic diseases and the improvement in residents' health awareness. Policy efforts are necessary to control the increased morbidity of chronic diseases and reduce gender and urban-rural differences in the quantity and quality of years lived.