Table 2

Features of AAS use in competitive bodybuilders versus recreational strength trainers

Characteristics*	Competitive	Recreational	OR (95% CI)	P value
Characteristics*	(n=96)	(n=888)	OR (95% CI)	P value
Any AAS use in lifetime	61 (63.5%)	356 (10.1%)	4.2 (2.6 to 7.0)	<0.001
	Estimated difference (SE)	Recreational AAS users (n=356)	Competitive AAS users (n=61)
Age of first AAS use (years)	23.1 (7.2)	25.1 (7.8)	−0.2 (0.9)	0.83
Lifetime duration of AAS use (weeks)	74 (112)	57 (120)	29 (16)	0.07
Lifetime number of courses of AAS (‘cycles’)	4.6 (9.3)	5.4 (8.6)	1.4 (1.3)	0.26
Average duration of an AAS cycle (weeks)	10.1 (5.5)	9.6 (5.2)	0.6 (0.7)	0.40
	OR (95% CI)
Disclosed AAS use to
No one	4 (6.6%)	32 (9.0%)	0.7 (0.2 to 2.1)	0.80
Family member/spouse	38 (62.3%)	187 (52.5%)	1.5 (0.8 to 2.6)	0.17
A friend	45 (73.8%)	256 (71.9%)	1.2 (0.6 to 2.2)	0.88
Colleague, teammate, gym member	21 (34.4%)	98 (27.5%)	1.5 (0.8 to 2.6)	0.29
Trainer/coach	9 (14.8%)	29 (8.14%)	1.9 (0.8 to 4.3)	0.14
Religious authority	2 (3.3%)	2 (0.6%)	7.8 (1.1 to 57)	0.10
Physician	31 (50.8%)	107 (30.1%)	2.4 (1.3 to 4.2)	0.003
Concerned about AAS side effects	31 (50.8%)	204 (57.3%)	0.7 (0.4 to 1.2)	0.33
AAS dependence†‡	16 (26.2%)	79 (22.2%)	1.2 (0.6 to 2.3)	0.59
Considers physicians knowledgeable about AAS/APEDs‡	5 (8.3%)	35 (9.9%)	0.8 (0.3 to 2.3)	0.73
Considers pharmacists knowledgeable about AAS/APEDs§	6 (9.8%)	50 (14.3%)	0.6 (0.3 to 1.6)	0.31

*Data are reported as mean (SD) or n (%) as appropriate.
†Endorsed at least three of the nine Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria for dependence (adapted for AAS use).
‡Data missing on four recreationals and one competitor.
§Data missing on six recreationals.
¶Data missing on four recreationals.
AAS, anabolic–androgenic steroids; APED, appearance-enhancing and performance-enhancing drug.