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Normalization of testosterone level after testosterone replacement therapy could decrease risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in men

Date:
August 5, 2015
Source:
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Summary:
Patients with low testosterone levels who have then gone on to have testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) could be at lower risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke, according to research.
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Patients with low testosterone levels who have then gone on to have testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) could be at lower risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke, according to research published in the European Heart Journal.

In the study, researchers from Kansas City VA Medical Centre in Kansas City, USA, examined the effect of TRT on cardiovascular outcomes by comparing incidents of heart attack, stroke, and all-cause mortality among different sub-populations of treated and untreated patients. The study used the largest cohort of patients and the longest follow-up for TRT to date.

Data from 83,010 male veterans, all without history of myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke, who were treated between December 1999 and May 2014 was used to establish that only 63% of patients achieved normal testosterone levels after TRT More importantly, the group who had normalized testosterone levels after TRT had significantly fewer deaths and cardiovascular events than those who did not. Dr Rajat S. Barua, the corresponding author of the paper and a cardiologist, said: "With such widespread and ever increasing use of TRT, there has been growing concern regarding its effect on mortality, as well as conflicting results. Our aim was to address the knowledge gap."

Dr Barua went on to say: "In this study of men, without previous history MI or stroke, with low testosterone levels, normalization of testosterone levels using TRT is associated with lower mortality, fewer MIs, and strokes. This is the first study to demonstrate that significant benefit is observed only if the dose is adequate to normalize the testosterone levels."

The paper stresses that more research, especially randomized controlled trials with long-term follow-up, would be needed to reach a definite conclusion on the risk of TRT on cardiovascular outcomes. Dr Barua added "Until then, there is a need for guideline-directed TRT with continuous active surveillance to maximize the benefits of TRT and to mitigate potential risks."


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Materials provided by Oxford University Press (OUP). Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Rishi Sharma, Olurinde A. Oni, Kamal Gupta, Guoqing Chen, Mukut Sharma, Buddhadeb Dawn, Ram Sharma, Deepak Parashara, Virginia J. Savin, John A. Ambrose, Rajat S. Barua. Normalization of testosterone level is associated with reduced incidence of myocardial infarction and mortality in men. European Heart Journal, 2015; ehv346 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehv346

Cite This Page:

Oxford University Press (OUP). "Normalization of testosterone level after testosterone replacement therapy could decrease risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in men." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 5 August 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150805191809.htm>.
Oxford University Press (OUP). (2015, August 5). Normalization of testosterone level after testosterone replacement therapy could decrease risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in men. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150805191809.htm
Oxford University Press (OUP). "Normalization of testosterone level after testosterone replacement therapy could decrease risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in men." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150805191809.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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