Cardiovascular health in transgender people

MicroRNA in cardiometabolic health and disease: The perspectives of sex, gender and personalised medicine

BACKGROUND

Personalized medicine represents a novel and integrative approach that focuses on an individual's genetics and epigenetics, precision medicine, lifestyle and exposures as key players of health status and disease phenotypes.

METHODS

In this narrative review, we aim to carefully discuss the current knowledge on gender disparities in cardiometabolic diseases, and we consider the sex- specific expression of miRNAs and their role as promising tool in precision medicine.

RESULTS

Personalised medicine overcomes the restricted care of patient based on a binomial sex approach, by enriching itself with a holistic and dynamic gender integration. Recognized as a major worldwide health emergency, cardiometabolic disorders continue to rise, impacting on health systems and requiring more effective and targeted strategies. Several sex and gender drivers might affect the onset and progression of cardiometabolic disorders in males and females at multiple levels. In this respect, distinct contribution of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, molecular and physiological pathways, sex hormones, visceral fat and subcutaneous fat and lifestyle lead to differences in disease burden and outcomes in males and females.

CONCLUSIONS

Sex and gender play a pivotal role in precision medicine because the influence the physiology of each individual and the way they interact with environment from intrauterine life.

Transgender Women With Suppressed Testosterone Display Lower Burden of Coronary Disease Than Matched Cisgender Men

Context

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in transgender women (TW) may be affected by gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) and HIV, but few data compare TW on contemporary GAHT to well-matched controls.

Objective

We compared CVD burden and biomarker profiles between TW and matched cisgender men (CM).

Methods

Adult TW on GAHT (n = 29) were recruited for a cross-sectional study (2018-2020). CM (n = 48) from the former Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study were matched 2:1 to TW on HIV serostatus, age ±5 years, race/ethnicity, BMI category and antiretroviral therapy (ART) type. Cardiac parameters were measured by CT and coronary atherosclerosis by coronary CT angiography; sex hormone and biomarker concentrations were measured centrally from stored samples.

Results

Overall, median age was 53 years and BMI 29 kg/m2; 69% were non-white. All participants with HIV (71%) had viral suppression on ART. Only 31% of TW had testosterone suppression (<50 ng/dL, TW-S). Traditional CVD risk factors were similar between groups, except that TW-S had higher BMI than TW with non-suppressed testosterone (TW-T). TW-S had no evidence of non-calcified coronary plaque or advanced coronary stenosis, whereas TW-T and CM had similar burden. TW had lower prevalence of any coronary plaque, calcified plaque and mixed plaque than CM, regardless of testosterone concentrations and HIV serostatus. Estradiol but not testosterone concentrations moderately and negatively correlated with the presence of coronary plaque and stenosis. Small sample size limited statistical power.

Conclusion

Older TW with suppressed total testosterone on GAHT had no CT evidence of non-calcified coronary plaque or advanced coronary stenosis. Longitudinal studies to understand relationships between GAHT and CVD risk in TW are needed.

Body Composition and Metabolic Syndrome Components in Transgender/Gender Diverse Adolescents and Young Adults

Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the association of designated sex at birth, body composition, and gender-affirming hormone treatment (GAHT) with the components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) (overweight/obesity, elevated blood pressure [BP], altered glucose metabolism, and dyslipidemia) in transgender/gender diverse (TGD) adolescents and young adults. Methods: TGD individuals underwent body composition studies by bioelectrical impedance analysis according to designated sex at birth, and their muscle-to-fat ratio (MFR) z-scores were calculated. Generalized estimating equations with binary logistic models (n = 326) were used to explore associations while adjusting for potential confounders. Results: A total of 55 TGD females and 111 TGD males, with mean age of 18 ± 1.9 years and median duration of GAHT of 1.4 years (interquartile range = 0.6-2.5), were enrolled. Overall, 118/166 (71%) of the TGD cohort showed evidence of at least one MetS component, with a significantly higher rate among TGD males compared with TGD females (91.1% vs. 50.9%, p < 0.001). TGD males were at increased odds for overweight/obesity, elevated/hypertensive BP, elevated triglycerides (TGs), and an atherogenic dyslipidemia index (TG/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-c], TG:HDL-c). The odds of overweight/obesity increased by 44.9 for each standard deviation decrease in the MFR z-score, while the odds for an elevated TG:HDL-c index increased by 3.7. Psychiatric morbidity increased the odds for overweight/obesity by 2.89. Conclusions: After considering confounding variables, the TGD males on GAHT were found to be at an increased risk for cardiometabolic disease. Our observations support the importance of targeted medical nutrition intervention in this group of individuals.

Changes in Blood Lipids Following Initiation of Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aim

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of changes in low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol, and triglycerides following initiation of feminizing or masculinizing gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT).

Methods

A search of Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and CINAHL databases identified potentially relevant articles published from 1990 through 2024. Both observational and randomized trials of adults receiving feminizing or masculinizing GAHT with baseline and follow-up measures were included. Articles were reviewed for eligibility using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. The risk of bias in each study was quantified using the NHLBI Study Quality Assessment Tool for Before-After (Pre-Post) Studies with No Control Group. Random effects models were used to compute the before-and-after meta-differences in mean values for each parameter along with the I2 statistic to assess heterogeneity of results.

Results

Thirty-five studies met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Masculinizing GAHT was associated with significant changes in serum lipids from baseline up through the 60-month timepoint with meta-difference of means (95% CI) estimates of 26.2mg/dL (23.3,29.0) for LDL-C, 26.1mg/dL (22.8,29.4) for total cholesterol, 30.7mg/dL (6.9,54.6) for triglycerides and -9.4mg/dL (-12.1, -6.7) for HDL-C. Studies evaluating the effects of feminizing GAHT on balance demonstrated no notable changes in HDL-C or triglycerides while the results for LDL-C and total cholesterol were inconsistent. Heterogeneity of results ranged from minimal (I2 = 0%) to substantial (I2 = 90%).

Conclusions

While the results for transfeminine individuals on GAHT appear somewhat reassuring, transmasculine patients receiving testosterone may benefit from closer monitoring of lipid profiles.

Gender-affirming hormone treatment: friend or foe? Long-term follow-up of 755 transgender people

PURPOSE

Gender-affirming hormone treatment (GAHT) is one of the main demands of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people, who are usually categorised as transgender assigned-male-at birth (AMAB) and assigned-female-at birth (AFAB). The aim of the study is to investigate the long-term therapeutic management of GAHT, considering hormonal targets, treatment adjustments and GAHT safety.

METHODS

A retrospective, longitudinal, observational, multicentre clinical study was carried out. Transgender people, both AMAB and AFAB, were recruited from two Endocrinology Units in Italy (Turin and Modena) between 2005 and 2022. Each subject was managed with specific and personalized follow-up depending on the clinical practice of the Centre. All clinical data routinely collected were extracted, including anthropometric and biochemical parameters, lifestyle habits, GAHT regime, and cardiovascular events.

RESULTS

Three-hundred and two transgender AFAB and 453 transgender AMAB were included. Similar follow-up duration (p = 0.974) and visits' number (p = 0.384) were detected between groups. The transgender AFAB group reached therapeutic goals in less time (p = 0.002), fewer visits (p = 0.006) and fewer adjustments of GAHT scheme (p = 0.024). Accordingly, transgender AFAB showed a higher adherence to medical prescriptions compared to transgender AMAB people (p < 0.001). No significantly increased rate of cardiovascular events was detected in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Our real-world clinical study shows that transgender AFAB achieve hormone target earlier and more frequently in comparison to transgender AMAB individuals. Therefore, transgender AMAB people may require more frequent check-ups in order to tailor feminizing GAHT and increase therapeutic adherence.

The impact of gender-affirming hormone therapy on nutrition-relevant biochemical measures

Gender-affirming hormone therapy carries the potential risk for shifts in biochemical markers that may impact cardiometabolic, hematologic, hepatic, and renal health. The critical evaluation of biochemical data is an integral part of a comprehensive nutrition assessment; therefore, nutrition professionals should be aware of shifts that are expected during the course of masculinizing and feminizing hormone therapy. Changes in important biochemical values along with binary sex-specific standards for interpreting laboratory data can pose significant challenges for nutrition professionals working with transgender and gender-diverse patients who receive gender-affirming hormone therapy. Overall, research on the biochemical impact of masculinizing and feminizing hormone therapy is nascent and limited. Methodologies and outcomes measured are heterogenous across studies, introducing complexities that impede researchers from drawing definitive conclusions. In light of these limitations, this narrative review aims to describe the potential implications of masculinizing and feminizing hormone therapy regimens on biochemical measures that may influence nutrition strategies and interventions to promote optimal health.

Toward a Better Understanding of Cardiovascular Risk in the Transgender and Gender-Diverse Community: A Global Call to Action

On World Heart Day 2022, the Mexican Society of Cardiology, the Inter-American Society of Cardiology, and the World Heart Federation collaborated on a public call to action regarding the increased risk of adverse cardiovascular health outcomes in transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals. The aim of this article is to unpack the numerous factors that contribute to this, such as the social stigma faced by members of the TGD community, their reduced access to clinical care, and the scarcity of research regarding the unique needs of their community, which makes it difficult for clinicians to provide individualized medical care. Decreasing the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events among TGD individuals requires interventions such as educational reform in the medical community, an increase in inclusive research studies, and broader social initiatives intended to reduce the stigma faced by TGD individuals.

A case report of myocardial infarction in a young transgender man with testosterone therapy: raising awareness on healthcare issues in the transgender community and a call for further research

Background

People who are transgender may utilize masculinizing or feminizing gender-affirming hormonal therapy. Testosterone and oestrogen receptors are expressed throughout the cardiovascular system, yet the effects of these therapies on cardiovascular risk and outcomes are largely unknown. We report the case of a young transgender man with no discernible cardiovascular risk factors presenting with an acute coronary syndrome.

Case summary

A 31-year-old transgender man utilizing intramuscular testosterone masculinizing gender-affirming hormonal therapy presented with central chest pain radiating to the left arm. He had no past medical history of hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, or smoking. Electrocardiography demonstrated infero-septal ST depression, and high-sensitivity troponin-I was elevated and increased to 19 686 ng/L. He was diagnosed with a non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Inpatient coronary angiography confirmed a critical focal lesion in the mid right coronary artery, which was managed with two drug-eluting stents. Medical management (i.e. aspirin, ticagrelor, atorvastatin, ramipril, and bisoprolol) and surveillance of residual plaque disease evident in the long tubular left main stem, proximal left anterior descending, and proximal circumflex vessels was undertaken. The masculinizing gender-affirming hormonal therapy was continued.

Discussion

Despite a greater awareness of the potential risk of increased cardiovascular disease in transgender people, the fundamental lack of data regarding cardiovascular outcomes in transgender people may be contributing to healthcare inequalities in this population. We must implement better training, awareness, and research into transgender cardiovascular health to facilitate equitable and evidence-based outcomes.

A mini-review of the evidence for cerebrovascular changes following gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy and a call for increased focus on cerebrovascular transgender health

Gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy (gaHRT) is an important step for many in the gender diverse community, associated with increased quality-of-life and lower self-reported scores of depression and anxiety. However, considering the interactions that the involved sex hormones have on vasculature (with oestrogen and testosterone demonstrating vasodilatory and vasoconstricting properties, respectively), it is important for transgender healthcare research to examine how the manipulation of these hormones interact with cerebrovascular structure and functioning. There is a stark lack of research in this area. This mini-review outlines the research suggesting a vascular impact of these sex hormones using evidence from a range of cohorts (e.g., menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome) and discusses the work that has been done into cerebrovascular changes following gaHRT. Finally, recommendations for future research into cerebrovascular health in transgender cohorts following gaHRT are outlined.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Relation With Cardiovascular Disease in Cisgender Women and Transgender People

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the association of testosterone replacement therapy (TTh) with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and CVD-specific outcomes, in cisgender women and transgender population, and to determine whether this association varies by menopausal status.

METHODS

In 25 796 cisgender women and 1580 transgender people (≥30 years old) who were enrolled in the Optum's deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart Database (2007-2021), we identified 6288 pre- and postmenopausal cisgender women and 262 transgender people diagnosed with incident composite of CVD (coronary artery disease [CAD], congestive heart failure, stroke, and myocardial infarction). Prediagnostic prescription of TTh was ascertained for this analysis. Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the independent association of TTh with incident CVD.

RESULTS

We found a 24% increased risk of CVD (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.15-1.34), 26% risk of CAD (HR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.14-1.39), and a 29% risk of stroke (HR = 1.29; 95% CI, 1.14-1.45) after comparing cisgender women who used TTh with nonusers. Stratification by age group showed similar effects of TTh on CVD, CAD, and stroke. Among transgender people, TTh did not increase the risk of composite CVD, including by age stratification.

CONCLUSION

Use of TTh increased the risk of CVD, CAD, and stroke among cisgender women but not among transgender people. TTh is becoming more widely accepted in women, and it is the main medical treatment for transgender males. Therefore, use of TTh should be further investigated for the prevention of CVD.

Gonadal sex vs genetic sex in experimental atherosclerosis

Epidemiological data and interventional studies with hormone replacement therapy suggest that women, at least until menopause, are at decreased cardiovascular risk compared to men. Still the molecular mechanisms beyond this difference are debated and the investigation in experimental models of atherosclerosis has been pivotal to prove that the activation of the estrogen receptor is atheroprotective, despite not enough to explain the differences reported in cardiovascular disease between male and female. This casts also for investigating the importance of the sex chromosome complement (genetic sex) beyond the contribution of sex hormones (gonadal sex) on atherosclerosis. Aim of this review is to present the dualism between gonadal sex and genetic sex with a focus on the data available from experimental models. The molecular mechanisms driving changes in lipid metabolism, immuno-inflammatory reactivity and vascular response in males and females that affect atherosclerosis progression will be discussed.

Transition Regret and Detransition: Meanings and Uncertainties

Gender transition is undertaken to improve the well-being of people suffering from gender dysphoria. However, some have argued that the evidence supporting medical interventions for gender transition (e.g., hormonal therapies and surgery) is weak and inconclusive, and an increasing number of people have come forward recently to share their experiences of transition regret and detransition. In this essay, I discuss emerging clinical and research issues related to transition regret and detransition with the aim of arming clinicians with the latest information so they can support patients navigating the challenges of regret and detransition. I begin by describing recent changes in the epidemiology of gender dysphoria, conceptualization of transgender identification, and models of care. I then discuss the potential impact of these changes on regret and detransition; the prevalence of desistance, regret, and detransition; reasons for detransition; and medical and mental healthcare needs of detransitioners. Although recent data have shed light on a complex range of experiences that lead people to detransition, research remains very much in its infancy. Little is known about the medical and mental healthcare needs of these patients, and there is currently no guidance on best practices for clinicians involved in their care. Moreover, the term detransition can hold a wide array of possible meanings for transgender-identifying people, detransitioners, and researchers, leading to inconsistences in its usage. Moving forward, minimizing harm will require conducting robust research, challenging fundamental assumptions, scrutinizing of practice patterns, and embracing debate.

Cardiovascular disease and feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy: Implications for the provision of safe and lifesaving care

Sex recorded at birth, gender identity, and feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy (fGAHT) likely contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in transgender women. Understanding the interplay of these factors is necessary for the provision of safe, affirming, and lifesaving care. Among transgender women taking fGAHT, data show increases in CVD mortality and rates of myocardial infarction, stroke, and venous thromboembolism compared to reference populations, depending on study design and comparators. However, most studies are observational with a paucity of contextualizing information (e.g., dosing, route of administration, gonadectomy status), which makes it difficult to parse adverse fGAHT effects from confounders and interaction with known CVD risk factors (e.g., obesity, smoking, psychosocial and gender minority stressors). Increased CVD risk in transgender women points toward a need for greater attention to CVD management in this population including cardiology referral when indicated and additional research on the mechanisms and mediators of CVD risk.

The molecular consequences of androgen activity in the human breast

Estrogen and progesterone have been extensively studied in the mammary gland, but the molecular effects of androgen remain largely unexplored. Transgender men are recorded as female at birth but identify as male and may undergo gender-affirming androgen therapy to align their physical characteristics and gender identity. Here we perform single-cell-resolution transcriptome, chromatin, and spatial profiling of breast tissues from transgender men following androgen therapy. We find canonical androgen receptor gene targets are upregulated in cells expressing the androgen receptor and that paracrine signaling likely drives sex-relevant androgenic effects in other cell types. We also observe involution of the epithelium and a spatial reconfiguration of immune, fibroblast, and vascular cells, and identify a gene regulatory network associated with androgen-induced fat loss. This work elucidates the molecular consequences of androgen activity in the human breast at single-cell resolution.

Gender-affirming hormonal therapy for transgender and gender-diverse people-A narrative review

As the number of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people accessing gender-affirming care increases, the need for healthcare professionals (HCPs) providing gender-affirming hormonal therapy (GAHT) also increases. This chapter provides an overview of the HCPs interested in getting involved in providing GAHT.

Branch retinal vein occlusion secondary to hormone replacement therapy in a transgender woman

PURPOSE

To report a case of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) in a transgender woman having undergone hormone replacement therapy.

METHODS

Observational case report.

RESULTS

A 44-year-old transgender woman on hormone replacement therapy with transdermal estradiol gel for the past 6 years was referred for sudden loss of vision and metamorphopsia in her left eye (LE) for the past 3 weeks. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/20 in her right eye (RE) and 20/40 in her LE. Dilated fundus examination showed deep flame-shaped hemorrhages, cotton wool spots, and arteriovenous crossing changes. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT, Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) showed retinal edema in the superonasal perifoveal area. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA PlexElite, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc, Dublin, CA) revealed the presence of areas of non-perfusion, disorganization of the capillary network and capillary ectasia and dilation. The patient was treated with 3 monthly intravitreal injections of aflibercept. Three-month follow up revealed complete resolution of the macular edema, with BCVA having improved to 20/20 in the LE.

CONCLUSION

As estrogen increases cardiovascular risk when used in hormone replacement therapy, RVO is a complication that must be taken into account by clinicians, especially in transgender women (male-to-female) who are more at risk.

The metabolic effects of hormonal treatment in transgender males: Safety of the testosterone gender-affirming therapy

BACKGROUND

Gender dysphoria is characterised by a sense of distress because of discordance between the self-perception of gender identity and the assigned sex. Hormonal treatment of transgender males uses testosterone to induce and preserve masculinisation.

OBJECTIVE

The study investigated the safety of testosterone therapy in transgender males.

METHODS

The present study used a retrospective file review of transgender male subjects who were treated with testosterone (initially transdermal testosterone gel and subsequently parenteral testosterone undecanoate) for at least 18 months and had subsequently achieved a serum testosterone level within the normal range of cisgender male counterparts. Changes in somatometric data and blood biomarkers were investigated.

RESULTS

The mean testosterone serum levels after approximately 18 months of treatment were about 545 ng/dL (SD ± 94 ng/dL). There was a statistically significant rise in body mass index (𝜒d = +1.23 kg/m2) with a reduction in blood glucose (𝜒d = -5.33 mg/dL) as well as statistically significant increases in aspartate transaminase (𝜒d = +4.3 U/L), haemoglobin (𝜒d = +1.72 g/dL), and haematocrit (𝜒d = +4.76%). In contrast, there were no significant changes in the lipidaemic profile of the subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with testosterone is routinely used for the promotion of virilising physical changes in transgender males. However, the likelihood of adverse effects of continuous treatment is still unclear. This study contributed to the notion that achieving testosterone levels within the target range is a prerequisite for the safety of the gender-affirming treatment.

Testosterone and Peripheral Arterial Disease

Testosterone levels in men begin declining in the early years of adulthood, with a 1-2% reduction/year. Low testosterone levels in men are associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and increased cardiovascular mortality. However, observational studies of testosterone levels in males and their relationship with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have yielded mixed results; only some cohorts show a clear association with low free testosterone levels. This discrepancy may, in part, be due to methodological issues with estimating free testosterone but also to different effects of testosterone on the vessel wall and metabolism. While testosterone improves glycaemic control, has anti-obesity effects and induces vasodilation, it also stimulates platelet aggregation and increases the haematocrit. Androgen deprivation treatment for advanced prostate cancer may be associated with elevated cardiovascular risk, as is testosterone abuse for performance enhancement. On the other hand, judicious treatment of male hypogonadism or testosterone treatment of trans-men appears to be safe.

LGBTQ+ Healthcare Teaching in UK Medical Schools: An Investigation into Medical Students' Understanding and Preparedness for Practice

OBJECTIVES

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* and queer/questioning + (LGBTQ+) healthcare teaching within UK medical schools is currently lacking, potentially impacting on patients' confidence in health services and ability to access care. The current study conducted a multi-site analysis aiming to investigate medical students' perceptions towards the teaching of LGBTQ+ healthcare in UK medical schools, as well as to gain a greater understanding of medical students' level of knowledge of LGBTQ+ healthcare, and preparedness for working with LGBTQ+ patients.

METHODS

Medical students (N = 296) from 28 UK institutions responded to a 15-question online survey distributed via course leads and social media. Thematic analysis of qualitative data was conducted, as well as statistical analysis of quantitative data using SPSS.

RESULTS

Only 40.9% of students reported having any teaching on LGBTQ+ healthcare, 96.6% of whom said this was one-off or very irregular sessions. Only 1 in 8 felt their knowledge and skills on LGBTQ+ healthcare was sufficient. 97.2% of students questioned wanted more knowledge on LGBTQ+ healthcare.

CONCLUSION

The current study highlighted that UK medical students felt underprepared for working with LGBTQ+ patients due to insufficient education. Given that teaching on LGBTQ+ healthcare is often optional and extra-curricular, it may not be reaching those who need it most. The authors are calling for the mandatory inclusion of LGBTQ+ healthcare in the teaching of all UK medical schools, within their individual curriculum frameworks, and with regulatory support from the General Medical Council. This will ensure a wider understanding among medical students, and subsequently qualified doctors, of the health inequities and unique health issues LGBTQ+ people face, which will better equip them to provide high-quality care to LGBTQ+ patients, and start to tackle the inequities they face.

Gender-affirming estrogen therapy route of administration and cardiovascular risk: a systematic review and narrative synthesis

Transgender women (individuals assigned male sex at birth who identify as women) and nonbinary and gender-diverse individuals receiving gender-affirming estrogen therapy (GAET) are at increased cardiovascular risk. Nonoral (i.e., patch, injectable) compared with oral estrogen exposure in cisgender women (individuals assigned female sex at birth who identify as women) may be associated with lower cardiovascular risk, though whether this applies to transgender women and/or gender-diverse individuals is unknown. We sought to determine the association between the route of estrogen exposure (nonoral compared with oral) and cardiovascular risk in transgender women and gender diverse individuals. Bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO) and supporting relevant literature were searched from inception to January 2022. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies reporting cardiovascular outcomes, such as all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, adverse cardiovascular events, and cardiovascular risk factors in individuals using nonoral compared with oral gender-affirming estrogen therapy were included. The search strategy identified 3,113 studies, 5 of which met inclusion criteria (3 prospective cohort studies, 1 retrospective cohort study, and 1 cross-sectional study; n = 259 participants, range of duration of exposure of 2 to 60 mo). One out of five studies reported on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality or adverse cardiovascular events. All five studies reported lipid levels [low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC)], whereas only two studies reported systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Limited studies have examined the effect of the route of GAET on all-cause cardiovascular mortality, morbidity, and risk factors. In addition, there is significant heterogeneity in studies examining the cardiovascular effects of GAET.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study is the first to summarize the potential effect of nonoral versus oral gender-affirming estrogen therapy use on cardiovascular risk factors in transgender women or nonbinary or gender-diverse individuals. Heterogeneity of studies in reporting gender-affirming estrogen therapy formulation, dose, and duration of exposure limits quantification of the effect of gender-affirming estrogen therapy on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, adverse cardiovascular events, and cardiovascular risk factors. This systematic review highlights the needs for large prospective cohort studies with appropriate stratification of gender-affirming estrogen therapy by dose, formulation, administration route, and sufficient follow-up and analyses to limit selection bias to optimize the cardiovascular care of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals.

Transgender Medicine and Risk of Venous Thromboembolism

Gender dysphoria refers to psychological distress that results from an incongruence between gender identity and sex assigned at birth. Administration of sex hormones is most often used as a first step to develop and maintain physical characteristics consistent with gender identity. Gender-affirming hormone treatment is considered beneficial for the quality of life and reduction of depression. However, estrogen and androgen-lowering hormone therapies used in transwomen are in particular associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism. In this review, introduced by a clinical case, we provide an overview of the currently available medical therapies in transgender medicine, and put the associated increased risk of venous thromboembolism into perspective.

Body, metabolic and renal changes following cross-sex estrogen/progestogen therapy in a rodent model simulating its use by transwomen

PURPOSE

The use of sex steroids by trans people has been of paramount importance regarding body changes during gender transition. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of an injectable steroid combination frequently used by transwomen, namely estradiol enanthate with dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide (E2EN/DHPA), on blood pressure and metabolic outcomes using an animal model.

METHODS

Two-month-old male Wistar rats were orchiectomized or sham-operated and divided into groups: (1) Sham treated with sesame oil vehicle (SG), (2) sham treated with E2EN/DHPA (SP), (3) orchiectomized rats treated with vehicle (OG), and (4) orchiectomized rats treated with E2EN/DHPA (OP), with all groups treated every 10 days for 5 months. We evaluated systolic blood pressure (SBP), body weight (BW), abdominal circumference, nasoanal length (NAL), food and water intake (FI, WI), lipid profile (triglycerides, LDL, and HDL), serum C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma concentrations of urea (URpl) and creatinine (CRpl), 24 h urinary volume (V24 h), sodium and potassium excretion (UNa⁺, UK⁺), and proteinuria.

RESULTS

E2EN/DHPA administration reduced BW (SP 324.5 ± 31.1; OP 291.7 ± 41.3 g) and NAL (SP 24.5 ± 0.4; OP 24.6 ± 1.0 cm), without changing blood pressure, but increased URpl concentration (SP 55.0 ± 4.8; OP 42.5 ± 8.8 mg/dL) and CRpl (SP 0.47 ± 0.05; OP 0.46 ± 0.04 mg/dL), sodium (SP 3.1 ± 0.8; OP 3.3 ± 0.4 µEq/min/kg), potassium (SP 0.91 ± 0.22; OP 0.94 ± 0.22 µEq/min/kg) excretions and urinary volume (SP 15.5 ± 2.1; OP 16.4 ± 2.9 mL/24 h).

CONCLUSION

Cross-sex hormone therapy with E2EN/DHPA significantly modified body characteristics in male rats, producing a feminizing change without altering blood pressure or generating harmful metabolic parameters, but larger translational studies are still needed.

Transgender Identity and Cardiovascular Disease

Objectives

As of 2016, 1.4 million people in the United States were identified as transgender. Transgender people face health disparities and may be at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The objective of this study was to examine the odds of CVD for those who report a transgender identity compared with cisgender.

Methods

We used logistic regression to examine whether transgender identity was associated with CVD after accounting for factors commonly associated with CVD. Data were obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey for the years 2015 through 2019.

Results

Of the participants, 93.1% reported no CVD and 6.9% reported CVD. For participants with female sex recorded at birth, those identifying as transgender had 2.66 times higher odds of CVD (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.60-4.41) than those identifying as cisgender. For participants with male sex recorded at birth, the odds of CVD were not statistically significantly different for transgender identity compared with cisgender identity; however, those who were gender nonconforming had 2.21 times higher odds of CVD (95% CI: 1.04-4.70) compared with those with cisgender identity. Additional significant predictors of CVD were age, race, body mass index, alcohol consumption, exercise, and smoking status.

Conclusion

Participants who were female sex recorded at birth had statistically significant increased odds of CVD for those reporting transgender identity compared with cisgender identity. However, transgender identity did not change the odds of CVD compared with cisgender identity for participants who were male sex recorded at birth.

Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8

Background: Transgender healthcare is a rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field. In the last decade, there has been an unprecedented increase in the number and visibility of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people seeking support and gender-affirming medical treatment in parallel with a significant rise in the scientific literature in this area. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is an international, multidisciplinary, professional association whose mission is to promote evidence-based care, education, research, public policy, and respect in transgender health. One of the main functions of WPATH is to promote the highest standards of health care for TGD people through the Standards of Care (SOC). The SOC was initially developed in 1979 and the last version (SOC-7) was published in 2012. In view of the increasing scientific evidence, WPATH commissioned a new version of the Standards of Care, the SOC-8. Aim: The overall goal of SOC-8 is to provide health care professionals (HCPs) with clinical guidance to assist TGD people in accessing safe and effective pathways to achieving lasting personal comfort with their gendered selves with the aim of optimizing their overall physical health, psychological well-being, and self-fulfillment. Methods: The SOC-8 is based on the best available science and expert professional consensus in transgender health. International professionals and stakeholders were selected to serve on the SOC-8 committee. Recommendation statements were developed based on data derived from independent systematic literature reviews, where available, background reviews and expert opinions. Grading of recommendations was based on the available evidence supporting interventions, a discussion of risks and harms, as well as the feasibility and acceptability within different contexts and country settings. Results: A total of 18 chapters were developed as part of the SOC-8. They contain recommendations for health care professionals who provide care and treatment for TGD people. Each of the recommendations is followed by explanatory text with relevant references. General areas related to transgender health are covered in the chapters Terminology, Global Applicability, Population Estimates, and Education. The chapters developed for the diverse population of TGD people include Assessment of Adults, Adolescents, Children, Nonbinary, Eunuchs, and Intersex Individuals, and people living in Institutional Environments. Finally, the chapters related to gender-affirming treatment are Hormone Therapy, Surgery and Postoperative Care, Voice and Communication, Primary Care, Reproductive Health, Sexual Health, and Mental Health. Conclusions: The SOC-8 guidelines are intended to be flexible to meet the diverse health care needs of TGD people globally. While adaptable, they offer standards for promoting optimal health care and guidance for the treatment of people experiencing gender incongruence. As in all previous versions of the SOC, the criteria set forth in this document for gender-affirming medical interventions are clinical guidelines; individual health care professionals and programs may modify these in consultation with the TGD person.

Cardiovascular risk in Danish transgender persons: a matched historical cohort study

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular risk could be increased in transgender persons, but the mechanism is undetermined.

AIM

The aim of this study was to assess the risk of cardiovascular outcomes in Danish transgender persons compared to controls.

METHODS

The study design was a historical register-based cohort study in Danish transgenders and age-matched controls. The main outcome measure was cardiovascular diagnosis (any CVD) including medicine prescriptions for CVD during 2000-2018. The transgender cohort (n = 2671) included persons with International Classification of Diseases-10 diagnosis code of 'gender identity disorder' (n = 1583) and persons with legal sex change (n = 1088), 1270 were assigned female at birth (AFAB) and 1401 were assigned male at birth (AMAB). Controls (n = 26 710) were matched by age (n = 5 controls of same and n = 5 controls of other birth sex) of the respective transgender.

RESULTS

The median (interquartile range) age at study inclusion was 22 (18; 29) years for AFAB and 26 (21; 39) years for AMAB. The mean (s.d.) follow-up time was 4.5 (4.2) years for AFAB and 5.7 (4.8) years for AMAB. The hazard ratio (HR) for any CVD was significantly higher in transgenders vs controls of same and other birth sex, with highest adjusted HR in transgenders AFAB vs control men: 2.20 (95% CI: 1.64;2.95), P < 0.001. Gender-affirming hormone treatment (GAHT) explained part of elevated risk of CVD in transgenders AFAB, whereas GAHT did not contribute to the elevated risk of CVD in transgenders AMAB.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of cardiovascular diagnosis was increased in transgenders. The mechanism should be further investigated.

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention of Stroke in Transgender Adults

Purpose of Review

To identify the current state of science on stroke in transgender adults and highlight gaps in need of further research. We will review current research on cerebrovascular risk and disease, hormone therapy, and stroke in transgender individuals. Finally, we will provide a framework for healthcare providers to prevent and reduce disparities through inclusive care practices.

Recent Findings

Transgender people experience unique stroke risk factors, secondary to both psychosocial stress and health-related behaviors. These include higher rates of HIV, tobacco use, stimulant use, and hepatitis C. The use of gender-affirming hormone therapy may lead to an increased risk for ischemic stroke, but the data are limited and require further research.

Summary

Recent research has highlighted the numerous healthcare disparities faced by transgender individuals. Regarding stroke disparities, these are multifactorial and include contributions from health-related behaviors, inadequate access to care, the use of hormonal therapy, and minority stress. Further research is needed to increase access to care and reduce the substantial gap in outcomes for these individuals.

Cardiovascular outcomes in transgender individuals in Sweden after initiation of gender-affirming hormone therapy

AIMS

We compared the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in transgender participants with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria (GD) with and without gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) to the incidence observed in the general population.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The population-based cohort included all individuals >10 years in Sweden linked to Swedish nationwide healthcare Registers (2006-2016). Two comparator groups without GD/GAHT were matched (1:10) on age, county of residence, and on male and female birth-assigned sex, respectively. Cox proportional models provided hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for CVD outcomes. Among 1779 transgender individuals (48% birth-assigned males [AMAB], 52% birth-assigned females [AFAB]) 18 developed CVD, most of which were conduction disorders. The incidence of CVD for AFAB individuals with GD was 3.7 per 1000 person-years (95%CI: 1.4-10.0). AMAB individuals with GD had an incidence of CVD event of 7.1 per 1000 person-years (95%CI: 4.2-12.0). The risk of CVD event was 2.4 times higher in AMAB individuals (HR: 2.4, 95%CI: 1.3-4.2) compared to cisgender women, and 1.7 higher compared to cisgender men (HR: 1.7, 95%CI: 1.0-2.9). Analysis limited to transgender individuals without GAHT yielded similar results to those with GAHT treatment.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of CVD among GD/GAHT individuals was low, although increased compared to matched individuals without GD and similar to the incidence among GD/no GAHT individuals, thus not lending support for a causal relationship between treatment and CVD outcomes. Larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to verify these findings, as well as possible effect modification by comorbidity.

Affirming Hormone Treatment for a Transgender Adolescent After a Venous Thromboembolic Event

BACKGROUND

Medical affirmation, including gender-affirming hormones, is an essential component in the treatment of many transgender and gender-diverse youth. The risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) during testosterone therapy for gender-affirming care is not fully elucidated.

OBSERVATION

The case describes a 17-year-old transgender male treated with testosterone therapy who presented with an occlusive deep vein thrombosis of right axillary and subclavian veins. Testosterone level was 920 ng/dL at the time of the deep vein thrombosis, and he had no risk factors for VTE. A complete hypercoagulable workup was negative.

CONCLUSIONS

The possibility of testosterone therapy as a risk factor for VTE may suggest the need to include this information during informed consent discussions. Long-term anticoagulation may be considered for those restarting testosterone therapy.

Th17 cells-linked mechanisms mediate vascular dysfunction induced by testosterone in a mouse model of gender-affirming hormone therapy

Clinical data point to adverse cardiovascular events elicited by testosterone replacement therapy. Testosterone is the main hormone used in gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) by transmasculine people. However, the cardiovascular impact of testosterone in experimental models of GAHT remains unknown. Sex hormones modulate T cells activation, and immune mechanisms contribute to cardiovascular risk. The present study evaluated whether testosterone negatively impacts female cardiovascular function by enhancing Th17 cells-linked effector mechanisms. Female (8 weeks-old) C57BL/6J mice received testosterone (48 mg.Kg^-1.week^-1) for 8 weeks. Male mice were used for phenotypical comparisons. The hormone-treatment in female mice increased circulating testosterone to levels observed in male mice. Testosterone increased lean body mass and body mass index, and decreased perigonadal fat mass, mimicking clinical findings. After 8 weeks, testosterone decreased endothelium-dependent vasodilation and increased circulating Th17 cells. After 24 weeks, testosterone increased blood pressure in female mice. Ovariectomy did not intensify phenotypical or cardiovascular effects by testosterone. Female mice lacking T and B cells [Rag1 knockout (^-/-)], as well as female mice lacking IL-17 receptor (IL-17Ra^-/-), did not exhibit vascular dysfunction induced by testosterone. Testosterone impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation in female mice lacking γδ T cells, similarly to the observed in wild type female mice. Adoptive transfer of CD4⁺ T cells restored testosterone-induced vascular dysfunction in Rag1^-/- female mice. Together, these data suggest that CD4⁺ T cells, most likely Th17 cells, are central to vascular dysfunction induced by testosterone in female mice, indicating that changes in immune cells balance are important in the GAHT in transmasculine people.

Illuminating the Mechanisms Underlying Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease

Sex is a key risk factor for many types of cardiovascular disease. It is imperative to understand the mechanisms underlying sex differences to devise optimal preventive and therapeutic approaches for all individuals. Both biological sex (determined by sex chromosomes and gonadal hormones) and gender (social and cultural behaviors associated with femininity or masculinity) influence differences between men and women in disease susceptibility and pathology. Here, we focus on the application of experimental mouse models that elucidate the influence of 2 components of biological sex-sex chromosome complement (XX or XY) and gonad type (ovaries or testes). These models have revealed that in addition to well-known effects of gonadal hormones, sex chromosome complement influences cardiovascular risk factors, such as plasma cholesterol levels and adiposity, as well as the development of atherosclerosis and pulmonary hypertension. One mechanism by which sex chromosome dosage influences cardiometabolic traits is through sex-biased expression of X chromosome genes that escape X inactivation. These include chromatin-modifying enzymes that regulate gene expression throughout the genome. The identification of factors that determine sex-biased gene expression and cardiometabolic traits will expand our mechanistic understanding of cardiovascular disease processes and provide insight into sex differences that remain throughout the lifespan as gonadal hormone levels alter with age.

Are there sex differences in risk for exertional heat stroke? A translational approach

NEW FINDINGS

What is the topic of this review? This review discusses the current status of the literature in sex differences in exertional heat stroke. What advances does this review highlight? We utilize a translational model to explore possible physical and physiological differences with respect risk and treatment of exertional heat stroke.

ABSTRACT

Exertional heat stroke (EHS) is a potentially fatal condition brought about by a combination of physical activity and heat stress and resulting in central nervous system dysfunction and organ damage. EHS impacts several hundred individuals each year ranging from military personnel, athletes, to occupational workers. Understanding the pathophysiology and risk factors can aid in reducing EHS across the globe. While we know there are differences between sexes in mechanisms of thermoregulation, there is currently not a clear understanding if/how those differences impact EHS risk. The purpose of this review is to assess the current status of the literature surrounding EHS from risk factors to treatment using both animal and human models. We use a translational approach, considering both animal and human research to elucidate the possible influence of female sex hormones on temperature regulation and performance in the heat and highlight the specific areas with limited research. While more work is necessary to comprehensively understand these differences, the current research presented provides a good framework for future investigations. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Perinatal considerations for care of transgender and nonbinary people: a narrative review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities, specifically the transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) communities, continues to grow. However, there is little description, much less guidance toward optimizing, the pregnancy-related care of TGNB people. The overarching goal of this paper is to provide guidance that aids in reimagining obstetrics to include people of all genders.

RECENT FINDINGS

This article will review current literature and provide recommendations specific to the hospital birthing environment to help address the lack of knowledge regarding pregnancy-related care of TGNB individuals. This care is further divided into three main times: (1) preconception, antepartum care, and triage, (2) intrapartum, and (3) postpartum. We also discuss considerations for the general medical care of TGNB individuals.

SUMMARY

Understanding facilitators and barriers to gender affirming pregnancy-related care of TGNB individuals are first steps toward providing a respectful, affirming, and evidence-based environment for all patients, especially TGNB individuals. Here we provide context, discussion, and resources for providers and TGNB patients navigating pregnancy-related care. Lastly, this review challenges researchers and clinicians with future directions for the care of TGNB individuals in this continually expanding field.

Prevalence and Predictors of Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Factors in Transgender Persons in the United States

BACKGROUND

The cardiovascular health of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) persons, a growing population in the United States, has become a subject of heightened interest. We sought to assess the prevalence and predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in transgender men, transgender women, and gender nonconforming persons in the United States.

METHODS

A cohort of individuals self-identified as TGD (ie, transgender or gender nonconforming) in the United States was identified using the 2018 Centers for Disease Control's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey.

RESULTS

Among the 1019 TGD individuals studied, 378 (37.1%) identified their transition status as male-to-female, 394 (38.7%) as female-to-male, and the remaining 247 (24.2%) as gender nonconforming. A total of 138 (13.5%) had reported CVD, while 881 (86.5%) did not. The prevalence of CVD in TGD individuals identified as male-to-female, female-to-male, and gender nonconforming were noted to be similar (14.6% vs. 13.5% vs. 12.1%; P = 0.69). TGD persons with CVD were older with lower annual income. They also had higher rates of smoking, lower rates of regular exercise, and higher rates of smoking and chronic medical comorbidities. Independent predictors of CVD in TGD persons included older age, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and depressive disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

In this contemporary cross-sectional nationally representative survey, CVD was prevalent in nearly 14% of TGD persons. Further studies examining interventions to reduce CV risk and enhance access to medical care in the TGD population are warranted.

Lipoprotein subtypes after testosterone therapy in transmasculine adolescents

Differences in lipoprotein-particle subclasses between men and women start in puberty and narrow after menopause, suggesting a role for sex steroids. In this cross-sectional cohort study, we examined lipoprotein subtype profiles in transmasculine adolescents treated with testosterone. Transmasculine adolescents (n = 17) had lipoprotein profiles that were similar to those of cisgender males (n = 33) and more atherogenic than those of cisgender females (n = 32), with higher concentrations of small low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles (435 ± 222 nmol/L vs. 244 ± 163 nmol/L, p = 0.008) and lower concentrations of large high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles (1.5 ± 1.3 μmol/L vs 2.7 ± 1.2 μmol/L, p = 0.003) when compared to cisgender females. Thus, testosterone appears to be a major contributor to differences in lipoprotein profiles, a surrogate for cardiovascular disease risk, between cisgender women and both transgender and cisgender men.

Immuno-regenerative biomaterials for in situ cardiovascular tissue engineering - Do patient characteristics warrant precision engineering?

In situ tissue engineering using bioresorbable material implants - or scaffolds - that harness the patient's immune response while guiding neotissue formation at the site of implantation is emerging as a novel therapy to regenerate human tissues. For the cardiovascular system, the use of such implants, like blood vessels and heart valves, is gradually entering the stage of clinical translation. This opens up the question if and to what extent patient characteristics influence tissue outcomes, necessitating the precision engineering of scaffolds to guide patient-specific neo-tissue formation. Because of the current scarcity of human in vivo data, herein we review and evaluate in vitro and preclinical investigations to predict the potential role of patient-specific parameters like sex, age, ethnicity, hemodynamics, and a multifactorial disease profile, with special emphasis on their contribution to the inflammation-driven processes of in situ tissue engineering. We conclude that patient-specific conditions have a strong impact on key aspects of in situ cardiovascular tissue engineering, including inflammation, hemodynamic conditions, scaffold resorption, and tissue remodeling capacity, suggesting that a tailored approach may be required to engineer immuno-regenerative biomaterials for safe and predictive clinical applicability.

Considerations for Transgender People With Diabetes

This article offers clinicians resources and an overview for supporting gender-diverse individuals with diabetes. Creating a supportive office environment is crucial to providing optimal diabetes care for patients who identify as transgender.

Testosterone, identity and the body: Exploring cultural definitions of disorder

Medically-sanctioned testosterone administration has seen increasingly widespread application in the treatment of gender dysphoria (GD). Yet, by comparison, this approach is not medically accepted for those who are experiencing muscle dysmorphia (MD), a specifier of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), despite both conditions reflecting incongruences between self-perception, identity and phenotype, and both currently being classified as mental health disorders. Rather, by stark contrast, those with MD are largely treated with psychological intervention to accept themselves as they physically are and the illicit use of testosterone for muscle-related body perception purposes is generally subject to criminal justice enforcement actions. In this commentary, we examine attempts to distinguish between the use of testosterone for gender-affirming hormone therapy in the case of GD and for aesthetic (muscle enhancement) use in the case of MD, as well as explore the implications of this disparity. Moreover, we consider how such disparity in policy and practice may be understood, in part, as an example of a bias reflecting the selective pathologizing of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use, socio-cultural evolutions in gender identity and expression and, more broadly, the manner in which culture defines disorder and its appropriate response.

Systemic inflammation as a driver of health disparities among sexually-diverse and gender-diverse individuals

Sexually-diverse individuals (those who seek sexual or romantic relationships with the same and/or multiple genders) and gender-diverse individuals (those whose gender identity and/or expression differs from their birth-assigned sex/gender) have disproportionately high physical health problems, but the underlying biological causes for these health disparities remain unclear. Building on the minority stress model linking social stigmatization to health outcomes, we argue that systemic inflammation (the body's primary response to both physical and psychological threats, indicated by inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and proinflammatory cytokines) is a primary biobehavioral pathway linking sexual and gender stigma to physical health outcomes. Expectations and experiences of social threat (i.e., rejection, shame, and isolation) are widespread and chronic among sexually-diverse and gender-diverse individuals, and social threats are particularly potent drivers of inflammation. We review research suggesting that framing "minority stress" in terms of social safety versus threat, and attending specifically to the inflammatory consequences of these experiences, can advance our understanding of the biobehavioral consequences of sexual and gender stigma and can promote the development of health promoting interventions for this population.

Blood pressure dynamics after pubertal suppression with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs followed by estradiol treatment in transgender female adolescents: a pilot study

OBJECTIVES

The benefits of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) in the treatment of central precocious puberty are well established, and their use is regarded as both safe and effective. Possible adverse effects on blood pressure (BP) and cardiac outcomes, body composition, bone health and brain development, however, continue to be of some concern. The aim of this study was to analyze BP changes in transgender female adolescents before and after receiving GnRHa and after adding estrogen treatment.

METHODS

This was a retrospective pilot study. We analyzed systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) before and after GnRHa initiation and after adding estrogen.

RESULTS

Nineteen transgender female adolescents received GnRHa and 15 continued to estrogen treatment. Their baseline SBP and DBP percentiles did not change significantly after either GnRHa or the addition of estrogen treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood pressure is apparently not affected by GnRHa or GnRHa + estrogen treatment in transgender female adolescents. Further larger studies are indicated to confirm these findings.

Routine Screening for Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults Taking Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy: a Narrative Review

Despite the growing number of adult transgender and gender diverse (TGD) patients seeking health services, there are many unknowns regarding how routine screening recommendations should be applied to TGD persons receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT). Patients taking GAHT may have disease risks that differ from what is expected based on their sex assigned at birth or affirmed gender identity. We discuss two patient cases, one transgender man and one transgender woman who present for routine medical care, to review several conditions that may be impacted by the hormones utilized in masculinizing and feminizing GAHT and for which screening recommendations are available for TGD adults: cardiovascular risk factors, osteoporosis, breast cancer, cervical cancer, and prostate cancer. We reviewed the TGD-specific screening recommendations from several major medical organizations and programs and found them to be largely based upon expert opinion due to a lack of evidence. The goal of this narrative review is to assist healthcare professionals in counseling and screening their TGD patients when and where appropriate. Not all TGD adults have the ability or need to receive routine medical care from a specialized TGD health clinic; therefore, it is essential for all healthcare professionals involved in routine and gender-affirming care to have knowledge about these conditions and screenings.

Postmenopausal Hyperandrogenism: Evaluation and Treatment Strategies

Evidence of clinical and/or biochemical androgen excess poses a unique differential in postmenopausal women. Some signs and symptoms of postmenopausal hyperandrogenism can be normal and attributed to the natural aging process. However, the causes of androgen excess in this group include both nontumorous and tumorous causes. Treatment of androgen excess may improve both quality of life and long-term metabolic outcomes.

Considerations for Transgender Patients Perioperatively

With a shift in the cultural, political, and social climate surrounding gender and gender identity, an increase in the acceptance and visibility of transgender individuals is expected. Anesthesiologists are thus more likely to encounter transgender and gender nonconforming patients in the perioperative setting. Anesthesiologists need to acquire an in-depth understanding of the transgender patient's medical and psychosocial needs. A thoughtful approach throughout the entirety of the perioperative period is key to the successful management of the transgender patient. This review provides anesthesiologists with a culturally relevant and evidence-based approach to transgender patients during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods.

Transgender adults, gender-affirming hormone therapy and blood pressure: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GHT) is utilized by people who are transgender to align their secondary sex characteristics with their gender identity. Data relating to cardiovascular outcomes in this population are limited. We aimed to review the impact of GHT on the blood pressure (BP) of transgender individuals.

METHODS

We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS and Cochrane Library databases for articles published relating to the BP of transgender adults commencing GHT. Methodological quality was assessed via the 'Quality Assessment Tool for Before-After (Pre-Post) Studies with No Control Group'.

RESULTS

Six hundred articles were screened, of which 14 studies were included in this systematic review encompassing 1309 individuals (∼50% transgender men and women) treated with GHT between 1989 and 2019. These articles were all pre-post observational studies without control groups. Mean ages ranged between 23.0-36.7 years (transgender men) and 25.2-34.8 years (transgender women). Interventions were diverse and included oral, transdermal and injectable hormonal preparations with 4 months to 5 years follow-up. Most studies in transgender men did not demonstrate a change in BP, whereas transgender women on GHT demonstrated both increases and decreases in SBP. These studies were heterogenous with significant methodological limitations and only two were determined to have a good quality rating.

CONCLUSION

There is currently insufficient data to advise the impact of GHT on BP in transgender individuals. Better quality research is essential to elucidate whether exogenous sex hormones modulate BP in transgender people and whether this putative alteration infers poorer cardiovascular outcomes.

Biocultural approaches to transgender and gender diverse experience and health: Integrating biomarkers and advancing gender/sex research

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people are increasingly visible in U.S. communities and in national media. With this increased visibility, access to gender affirming healthcare is also on the rise, particularly for urban youth. Political backlash and entrenchment in a gender binary, however, continue to marginalize TGD people, increasing risk for health disparities. The 2016 National Institute of Health recognition of sexual and gender minority people as a health disparities population increases available funding for much-needed research. In this article, we speak to the need for a biocultural human biology of gender/sex diversity by delineating factors that influence physiological functioning, mental health, and physical health of TGD people. We propose that many of these factors can best be investigated with minimally invasively collected biomarker samples (MICBS) and discuss how to integrate MICBS into research inclusive of TGD people. Research use of MICBS among TGD people remains limited, and wider use could enable essential biological and health data to be collected from a population often excluded from research. We provide a broad overview of terminology and current literature, point to key research questions, and address potential challenges researchers might face when aiming to integrate MCIBS in research inclusive of transgender and gender diverse people. We argue that, when used effectively, MICBS can enhance human biologists' ability to empirically measure physiology and health-related outcomes and enable more accurate identification of pathways linking human experience, embodiment, and health.

Physiological and Metabolic Characteristics of a Cohort of Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth in the United States

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to describe baseline physical and laboratory characteristics of participants in the largest prospective study of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth in the United States.

METHODS

Participants were recruited from four clinics which specialize in the care of TGD youth before starting either GnRH analogs for pubertal suppression or gender-affirming hormone treatment. Anthropometric and laboratory measurements were abstracted from the medical chart. Baseline characteristics including height, weight, body mass index, blood pressure, and laboratory measurements were compared with those of age-matched National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey comparison group.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight TGD youth with a median age of 11 years (range 8-14 years) were recruited before pubertal suppression, of whom 41 (53%) were designated male at birth, and 296 participants with a median age of 16 years (range 12-20 years) were recruited before beginning gender-affirming hormones, of whom 99 (33%) were designated male at birth. The mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower in the study participants when compared with that of National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey participants (50.6 ± 12.3 mg/dL vs. 53.3 ± 13.3 mg/dL, p = .001). Otherwise, the study cohorts were similar in terms of body mass index, proportion of overweight and obesity, blood pressure, and baseline laboratory variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Before starting gender-affirming treatment, TGD youth are physiologically similar to the general population of children and adolescents in the United States, with the exception of slightly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Evaluation of this cohort over time will define the physiological effects of pubertal blockade and gender-affirming hormone treatment.

Blood Pressure Dynamics After Pubertal Suppression with Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogs Followed by Testosterone Treatment in Transgender Male Adolescents: A Pilot Study

Purpose: We analyzed blood pressure (BP) changes in transgender male adolescents treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa) and after adding testosterone treatment. Methods: This was a retrospective pilot study. Outcome measures included systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) before and after GnRHa initiation and after adding testosterone. Results: Fifteen transgender male adolescents received GnRHa. DBP percentiles increased significantly after GnRHa treatment (from 55.9% ± 26.4 to 73.6% ± 9.4, p = 0.019). BP levels did not meet criteria for hypertension. DBP percentiles were restored after adding testosterone. Conclusion: GnRHa may increase DBP in transgender male adolescents, and testosterone treatment may restore it. Further larger studies are indicated.