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Rytz CL, Miranda KT, Ronksley PE, Saad N, Raj SR, Somayaji R, Dumanski SM, Ganshorn H, Greene DN, Collister D, Newbert AM, Peace L, Ahmed SB. Association between serum estradiol and cardiovascular health among transgender adults using gender-affirming estrogen therapy. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 327:H340-H348. [PMID: 38578239 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00151.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Gender-affirming estrogen therapy (GAET) is commonly used for feminization in transgender and nonbinary (TNB) individuals, yet the optimal rate of change (ROC) in estradiol levels for cardiovascular health is unclear. We examined the association between serum estradiol levels and cardiovascular-related mortality, adverse events, and risk factors in TNB adults using GAET. Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science were systematically searched (inception-April 2023) for original articles reporting serum estradiol levels and cardiovascular-related mortality, adverse events, and risk factors in TNB adults using GAET. Data extraction was completed in duplicate following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Stratified random effect meta-analyses using serum estradiol ROC (serum estradiolbaseline - serum estradiolfollow-up/study duration) was used to assess longitudinal studies (low, 0 < ROC ≤ 1 pg/mL/mo; moderate, 1 < ROC ≤ 3 pg/mL/mo; high, ROC ≥ 3 pg/mL/mo). Thirty-five studies (13 cross-sectional, 19 cohort, and 3 trials) were included. Two studies collectively reported 50 cardiovascular-related deaths, and four collectively reported 23 adverse cardiovascular events. Nineteen studies reporting cardiovascular risk factors were meta-analyzed by ROC stratum (low = 5; moderate = 6; high = 8), demonstrating an association between moderate [0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.22, 0.59 kg/m2, I2 = 28.2%] and high (0.46, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.78 kg/m2; I2 = 0.0%) serum estradiol ROC and increased body mass index. High (-6.67, 95% CI: -10.65, -2.68 mg/dL; I2 = 0.0%) serum estradiol ROC was associated with decreased low-density lipoproteins. Low (-7.05, 95% CI: -10.40, -3.70 mmHg; I2 = 0.0%) and moderate (-3.69, 95% CI: -4.93, -2.45 mmHg; I2 = 0.0%) serum estradiol ROCs were associated with decreases in systolic blood pressure. In TNB adults using GAET, serum estradiol ROC may influence cardiovascular risk factors, which may have implications for clinical cardiovascular outcomes.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 35 studies involving 7,745 participants, high rates of serum estradiol change were associated with small increases in body mass index. Moderate to high rates of change were associated with decreases in low-density lipoprotein. Low rates of change were associated with small decreases in systolic blood pressure. Rate of serum estradiol change in adults using gender-affirming estrogen therapy may influence cardiovascular risk factors, though further research is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal L Rytz
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Keila Turino Miranda
- Cardiovascular Health and Autonomic Regulation Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Paul E Ronksley
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- O'Brien Institute for Public Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nathalie Saad
- Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Satish R Raj
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Cardiac Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ranjani Somayaji
- Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sandra M Dumanski
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- O'Brien Institute for Public Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Heather Ganshorn
- Libraries and Cultural Resources, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - David Collister
- Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | | | - Sofia B Ahmed
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Albert, Canada
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