Testosterone deficiency as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Cardiology
• Metabolic Health

Background:

• Testosterone deficiency (TD) is increasingly diagnosed, often co-occurring with metabolic syndrome and obesity.
• Diagnosing and treating TD presents challenges due to symptom variability and weak correlation with serum testosterone levels.
• Untreated TD may elevate cardiometabolic risk, while testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) might offer metabolic benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the cardiovascular and metabolic risks associated with testosterone deficiency.
• To evaluate the risks and benefits of testosterone replacement therapy.
• To explore potential mechanisms linking cardiometabolic risks with TD and propose a treatment algorithm.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on testosterone deficiency, cardiovascular risks, metabolic syndrome, and testosterone replacement therapy.
• Analysis of potential mechanisms underlying the association between TD and cardiometabolic disease.
• Development of a proposed individual treatment algorithm for TD management.

Main Results:

• Testosterone deficiency is linked to increased cardiovascular and metabolic risks.
• Testosterone replacement therapy may have beneficial metabolic effects but requires careful risk-benefit assessment.
• Mechanisms linking TD and cardiometabolic risks are multifaceted, involving hormonal, inflammatory, and metabolic pathways.

Conclusions:

• Testosterone deficiency poses significant cardiometabolic risks.
• Testosterone replacement therapy can be considered for managing TD, with individualized treatment plans essential.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex interactions between testosterone levels, metabolic health, and cardiovascular outcomes.