Ann Intern Med

Low testosterone levels in men linked to higher mortality

May 17, 2024

Low testosterone, high LH, or very low estradiol levels in men were associated with increased all-cause mortality. Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels were positively associated and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels were nonlinearly associated with all-cause and CVD mortality.

• This literature review included prospective cohort studies of community-dwelling men who had sex hormones measured using mass spectrometry and ≥5 years of follow-up. Nine studies provided individual participant data (255,830 participant-years); 11 studies provided summary estimates (n = 24,109).
• Men with baseline testosterone levels <7.4 nmol/L (<213 ng/dL), LH levels >10 IU/L, or estradiol levels <5.1 pmol/L had higher all-cause mortality; those with testosterone levels <5.3 nmol/L (<153 ng/dL) had higher CVD mortality risk. Lower SHBG levels were associated with lower all-cause mortality and lower CVD mortality. Men with lower baseline DHT levels had higher risk for all-cause mortality and CVD mortality, and risk also increased with DHT levels >2.45 nmol/L. Men with DHT levels <0.59 nmol/L were at increased risk for incident CVD events.

Source:

Yeap BB, et al. (2024, May 14). Ann Intern Med. Associations of Testosterone and Related Hormones With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Men: Individual Participant Data Meta-analyses. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38739921/