Hypotestosteronemia in chronically critically ill men.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Critically ill patients often experience hormonal imbalances.
• Hypotestosteronemia is common in critically ill men, but its prevalence in chronically critically ill (CCI) populations is not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of hypotestosteronemia in chronically critically ill (CCI) men.

Main Methods:

• A prevalence survey was conducted in a step-down respiratory care unit (RCU).
• Thirty ventilator-dependent CCI men transferred from intensive care units (ICUs) were assessed.
• Total and bioavailable testosterone (bioT) levels were measured within 48 hours of RCU admission.

Main Results:

• 96% of patients (29 out of 30) had bioavailable testosterone (bioT) levels below the normal range for their age.
• Average bioT concentration was 19+/-20 ng/dL, representing 16% of total testosterone.
• A weak positive correlation was observed between bioT levels and the duration of ICU stay prior to RCU transfer, though this was not statistically significant when one outlier was removed.

Conclusions:

• Chronically critically ill men demonstrate a very high prevalence of hypotestosteronemia.
• This hormonal deficiency may impede patient recuperation and rehabilitation.
• Further studies are warranted to investigate the potential benefits of testosterone supplementation for improving recovery in these patients.