Modest opposite associations of endogenous testosterone and oestradiol with left ventricular remodelling and function...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Endocrinology
• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Clinical Cardiology

Background:

• Endogenous testosterone generally does not elevate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in healthy middle-aged men.
• Potential explanations include differential testosterone effects or interference with estradiol's cardiovascular functions.
• Understanding these hormonal influences on cardiac function is crucial for CVD risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations between endogenous testosterone, estradiol, and left ventricular structure and function.
• To explore the potential mechanisms behind the neutral effect of testosterone on CVD risk in healthy men.
• To elucidate the distinct roles of testosterone and estradiol in cardiac performance.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional population study of 1223 healthy men, aged 46 (6) years.
• Echocardiography was used to assess left ventricular structure and function.
• Linear regression analyses examined associations between sex steroid concentrations and cardiac parameters, adjusting for multiple covariates.

Main Results:

• Testosterone was inversely associated with ejection fraction (EF) and systolic tissue Doppler imaging indices.
• Estradiol showed a positive association with EF.
• These associations were statistically significant and consistent for both free and total sex steroid concentrations.

Conclusions:

• Testosterone and estradiol exhibit opposing associations with left ventricle systolic function in healthy middle-aged men.
• These findings offer a partial explanation for the overall neutral impact of testosterone on CVD risk in this demographic.
• Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the complex interplay of sex hormones in cardiovascular health.