Relationship between total testosterone, cognitive function, depressive behavior, and sleep quality in chronic kidney...

Studies show that testosterone levels are associated with cognitive function, depression, and sleep quality in the general population. However, these relationships in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients not on dialysis have not yet been evaluated before.

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, and evaluation of cognitive function, depressive behavior, and sleep quality.

In total, 109 CKD patients were enrolled. Total testosterone levels in stage 3, 4, and 5 CKD 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 stages 3 and 5 (p < 0.0001) and stages 4 and 5 CKD patients (p < 0.0001) but not between stages 3 and 4 CKD patients (p 0.094). Standardized Mini Mental State Examination (SMMSE) score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score, and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score were 26.2 ± 1.9, 7.1 ± 3.4, and 8.6 ± 6.4, respectively. In linear regression analysis, total testosterone levels were independently associated with SMMSE score [b 0.170, confidence interval (CI) 0.047-0.293, p 0.008] and BDI score (b -0.750, CI -1.283 to -0.216, p 0.006) but not with sleep quality.

Total serum testosterone levels were independently associated with cognitive function and depressive behavior but not with sleep disorders in stage 3-5 CKD patients not on dialysis.