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Krishnan S, Aldana-Bitar J, Golub I, Ichikawa K, Shabir A, Bagheri M, Hamidi H, Benzing T, Kianoush S, Budoff MJ. Testosterone therapy and the risk of cardiovascular disease in older, hypogonadal men. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2024:S0033-0620(24)00036-7. [PMID: 38423237 DOI: 10.1016/j.pcad.2024.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The debate over the cardiovascular (CV) implications of testosterone therapy (TT) have resulted in diverging safety recommendations and clinical guidelines worldwide. This narrative review synthesizes and critically evaluates long-term studies examining the effects of TT within the context of aging, obesity, and endogenous sex hormones on CV disease (CVD) risk to support informed clinical decision-making. Observational studies have variably linked low endogenous testosterone with increased CVD risk, while randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrate that TT yields cardiometabolic benefits without increasing short-term CV risk. The TRAVERSE trial, as the first RCT powered to assess CVD events, did not show increased major adverse cardiac events (MACE) incidence; however, its limitations - specifically the maintenance of testosterone at low-normal levels, a high participant discontinuation rate, and short follow-up - warrant a careful interpretation of its results. Furthermore, findings from the TTrials cardiovascular sub-study, which showed an increase in non-calcified plaque, indicate the need for ongoing research into the long-term CV impact of TT. The decision to initiate TT should consider the current evidence gaps, particularly for older men with known CVD. The CV effects of maintaining physiological testosterone levels through exogenous means remain to be fully explored. Until more definitive evidence is available, clinical practice should prioritize individualized care and informed discussions on the potential CV implications of TT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srikanth Krishnan
- The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA, 1124 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90502.
| | - Jairo Aldana-Bitar
- The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA, 1124 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90502
| | - Ilana Golub
- The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA, 1124 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90502; David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Keishi Ichikawa
- The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA, 1124 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90502
| | - Ayesha Shabir
- The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA, 1124 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90502
| | - Marziyeh Bagheri
- The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA, 1124 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90502
| | - Hossein Hamidi
- The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA, 1124 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90502
| | - Travis Benzing
- The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA, 1124 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90502
| | - Sina Kianoush
- The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA, 1124 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90502
| | - Matthew J Budoff
- The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA, 1124 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90502.
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