Endocrine Abstracts

Purpose: Studies have shown that testosterone levels were associated with cognitive function, depression and sleep quality in general population. However these relationships between testosterone, cognitive function, depressive behavior, and sleep quality in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients not on dialysis were not evaluated before.

Methods: All patients underwent history taking, physical examination, blood pressure measurement, routine urine and biochemical analysis, 24-h urine collection to measure urinary protein excretion and creatinine clearance, evaluation of cognitive function, depressive behavior and sleep quality.

Results: In total 109 CRF patients were enrolled. The total testosterone levels in stage 3, 4 and 5 CRF patients were 8.32±4.35, 6.71±3.12, and 4.22±1.28, ng/ml respectively (P<0.0001). Post hoc analysis revealed that total testosterone levels were different between stage 3 and stage 5 CRF patients (P<0.0001), between stage 4 and stage 5 CRF patients (P<0.0001) but not different between stage 3 and stage 4 patients (P:0.094). Standardized Mini Mental State Examination (SMMSE) Score, Pitssburg Sleep Quality Index Score, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Score of the patients were 26.2±1.9, 7.1±3.4 and 8.6±6.4 respectively. In linear regression analysis total testosterone levels were found to be independently associated with SMMSE score (b: 0.170, Confidence Interval: 0.047–0.293, P: 0.008) and BDI score (b: −0.750, Confidence Interval:−1.283–(−0.216), P: 0.006) but not with sleep quality.

Conclusion: Serum total testosterone levels were independently associated with cognitive function and depressive behavior but not with sleep disorders in stage 3 to 5 CRF patients not on dialysis

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.