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Testosterone supplements improved breathing exercise capacity in HF patients
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Patients with moderate to severe HF and left ventricular systolic dysfunction who used testosterone therapy experienced improvements in exercise capacity and breathing capabilities, with no increase in CV events, according to results of a meta-analysis.
“The improvement in exercise capacity was consistent across all of the studies,” Justin A. Ezekowitz, MD, researcher, professor and director of the Heart Function Clinic at University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, said in a press release. “Compared to patients in placebo groups, the differences were striking.”
Mustafa Toma, MD, of St. Paul’s Hospital, University of British Columbia, Canada, and colleagues designed four double blind, randomized trials (n=198 patients; 84% men; mean age, 67 years) to assess associations between testosterone therapy and increases in exercise capacity.
The four studies consisted of varying administration of testosterone. Two studies used intramuscular injections of 1 g testosterone undecanoate (Nebido, Jenahexal Pharma GmbH) and Sustanon 100. The other two studies used a transdermal patch (5-mg Androderm [Watson Labs] and 300-mcg Intrinsica [Warner Chilcott UK Limited]).
Patients participated in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) or peak VO₂ as part of the evaluation of exercise capacity after 52 weeks of treatment.
Testosterone therapy resulted in an average increase of 54 meters (95% CI, 43-65) in 6MWT, 46.7 meters (95% CI, 12.6-80.9) in ISWT and 2.7 mL/kg/minute (95% CI, 2.68-2.72) in peak VO₂ vs. placebo.
The researchers said the degree of improvement found in the study is greater than ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and cardiac resynchronization therapy, which are currently used for morbidity and mortality reduction in patients with HF.
Despite the impressive findings, the researchers said there must be additional trials to examine the various testosterone delivery methods.
Disclosure: Dr. Ezekowitz received funding as a New Investigator by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions. Dr. Toma reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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