Ann Intern Med
Low testosterone levels in men linked to higher mortality
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/