McClure R D
Virginia Mason Medical Center, 1100 Ninth Avenue (C7-URO), Seattle, WA 98111, USA.
Curr Urol Rep. 2001 Dec;2(6):453-9. doi: 10.1007/s11934-001-0039-3.
Among the most prominent health care issues of the 21st century are those relating to aging. Indeed, the elderly represent the fastest growing segment of our population. Typically, a urology practice includes a significant number of elderly males, providing the physician with both a challenge and an opportunity. Androgen deficiency in the aging male, with its detrimental effects on bone, muscle and body composition, sexual function, and psychological well-being, is an area of increasing interest in both the lay press and the medical community. The urologist must understand the pathophysiology of androgen deficiency in the male, recognize and investigate the subtle signs and symptoms of hypogonadism, determine the appropriateness of treatment, and offer informed options to the patient. Health care professionals have a responsibility to make "healthy" aging a priority.
21世纪最突出的医疗保健问题之一是与老龄化相关的问题。事实上，老年人是我们人口中增长最快的群体。通常，泌尿外科的业务包括大量老年男性患者，这给医生带来了挑战，也带来了机遇。老年男性雄激素缺乏对骨骼、肌肉、身体组成、性功能和心理健康都有不利影响，这一领域在大众媒体和医学界都越来越受到关注。泌尿外科医生必须了解男性雄激素缺乏的病理生理学，识别和研究性腺功能减退的细微体征和症状，确定治疗的适宜性，并为患者提供明智的选择。医疗保健专业人员有责任将“健康”老龄化作为优先事项。
