This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Extremely low endogenous testosterone concentrations may predict ischemic stroke risk in men
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
A high risk for ischemic stroke in men was found with extremely low endogenous testosterone concentrations, according to study findings published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
“The incidence of stroke increases with age, and before age 70 to 80 [years] stroke is more common among men than among women,” the researchers wrote. “A potential explanation for this gender difference may be differences in endogenous sex hormone concentrations; however, whether circulating endogenous sex hormones contribute to the risk of [ischemic stroke] in the general population is unclear.”
Marianne Benn, DMSc , of Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, and colleagues evaluated data from the Copenhagen City Heart Study on adult men (n = 4,615) and women (n = 4,724) to determine the effect of extreme concentrations of endogenous sex hormones on the risk for ischemic stroke.
Follow-up was conducted for 29 years during which 524 men and 563 women experienced ischemic stroke.
Compared with men who had testosterone concentrations in the 11th to 90th percentiles, those with testosterone concentrations at or below the 10th percentile had a higher risk for ischemic stroke (HR = 1.34; 95% CI, 1.05-1.72). No links were found for extremely high (> 90th percentile) testosterone concentrations or extremely low ( 10th percentile) or extremely high (> 90th percentile) estradiol concentrations and the risk for ischemic stroke in men.
A higher risk for ischemic stroke was found among premenopausal women with estradiol concentrations at or below the 10th percentile (HR = 2.38; 95% CI, 1.07-5.3); however, this was based on only eight events among 110 premenopausal women. In premenopausal women, the risk for ischemic stroke was not associated with extremely high (> 90th percentile) estradiol concentrations or extremely low ( 10th percentile) or extremely high (> 90th percentile) testosterone concentrations.
High and low levels of testosterone and estradiol were not associated with a risk for ischemic stroke in postmenopausal women.
The risk for ischemic stroke was higher among men with overweight or obesity and hypertension with testosterone concentrations at or below the 10th percentile, compared with those with levels in the 11th to 90th percentiles (HR = 1.46; 95% CI, 1.09-1.95).
“In conclusion, this large observational study of a general population and a meta-analysis suggest that extreme low endogenous testosterone concentrations are associated with an overall 33% higher risk of [ischemic stroke] in men, and a 46% higher risk in men who are both overweight/obese and hypertensive.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts