Originally Posted by
marcus300
Source: Testosterone Treatment and Mortality in Men with Low Testosterone Levels. Shores MM, Smith NL, Forsberg CW, et al. Testosterone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2012; Published ahead of print April 11, 2012
Observational cohort study examined the association between testosterone replacement therapy and mortality in men with low testosterone levels compared with no testosterone treatment.
This large retrospective observational cohort study of 1031 men with low testosterone (also known as hypogonadism) from seven Veteran Affairs medical centres in the US was the first to look for a link between testosterone treatment and mortality (death rate) in men with low testosterone. During the three and a half year study, 39% of the men received testosterone replacement therapy (intramuscular injections, testosterone patches or gel), and 61% did not. The mortality of treated men was compared with that of untreated men. The men in the study were aged 40 years or older (average age 62 years), with no history of prostate cancer, but they had a high number of other medical conditions, including diabetes (38%), sexual dysfunction (low libido; 36%) and heart disease (21%).Key Findings
Overall during the study, one in ten men who received testosterone replacement therapy for low testosterone died, while one in five of those who had low testosterone but did not receive treatment died
Treated men had a 39% lower risk of dying than untreated men when all the factors such as age, initial testosterone level, body characteristics and medical conditons, were taken into consideration
Testosterone treatment appeared to be most beneficial in younger men, men with diabetes, and men without heart disease
Source: Testosterone Treatment and Mortality in Men with Low Testosterone Levels. Shores MM, Smith NL, Forsberg CW, et al. Testosterone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2012; Published ahead of print April 11, 2012.
Background information
Low testosterone levels are common in older men, and have been linked to a number of conditions, including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular problems, loss of muscle mass and strength, poor bone density, and low libido. A number of studies have found that men with low testosterone tend to die at a higher rate than men with normal testosterone levels.
Although beneficial effects for testosterone treatment, including improvements in muscle mass and strength and increased bone density, insulin sensitivity and libido, have been shown in older men with low testosterone, this is the first study to specifically look at the link between testosterone treatment and mortality in middle-aged and older men with low testosterone. It is also interesting that men in this study often had a high level of other medical conditions that might make them more liable to harm or benefit from testosterone treatment.
An observational cohort study is used to explore the possible effect of a treatment on a group of similar subjects (cohort). It can either be prospective (following subjects over time) or retrospective (looking at the medical records of subjects who have already undergone treatment). The results of this retrospective observational study do not allow us to say for certain that testosterone treatment was the cause of the longer survival of the men who received treatment for their low testosterone, as there may have been other factors to explain the reduced mortality in men treated with testosterone. The results are very interesting, all the same, and are likely to encourage further research into the effects of testosterone treatment for men with low testosterone.
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