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Testosterone associated with improved functioning, muscle strength in elderly women with chronic HF
Iellamo F. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2010;56:1310-1316.
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The administration of testosterone therapy in elderly women with chronic HF was associated with improvements in functional capacity and other parameters, results from a pilot study suggested.
Researchers for the study enrolled 36 elderly female patients with stable chronic HF (ejection fraction 32.9 ± 6) who were randomly assigned at a 2:1 ratio to receive testosterone therapy with a transdermal patch (n=24) or placebo (n=12). Both groups also received optimal medical therapy. All patients were assessed at baseline and at 6 months, when they underwent a 6-minute walking test, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, an echocardiogram, quadriceps maximal isometric voluntary contraction, dynamic quadriceps isokinetic strength and insulin resistance assessment by homeostasis model.
According to the study results, 6-minute walking time and peak oxygen consumption improved in patients administered testosterone, but remained unchanged in the placebo group (P<.05 for all comparisons). In addition, an increase in distance walked at 6-minute walking time was associated with an increase in free testosterone levels (r=0.593, P<.01).
The researchers also reported a reduction in homeostasis model in the testosterone group vs. placebo (–16.5% vs. 5%, P<.05). Testosterone was also associated with significant increases in maximal voluntary contraction and peak torque, but these remained unchanged in the placebo group.
Neither the testosterone nor the placebo group experienced significant changes in echocardiographic parameters, and testosterone discontinuation was not required due to adverse effects.
“Testosterone supplementation improves functional capacity, insulin resistance and muscle strength in women with advanced chronic HF,” the researchers wrote. “Testosterone seems to be an effective and safe therapy for elderly women with chronic HF.”
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