Disability pension among androgenic-anabolic steroid users

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Public Health
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Androgenic-anabolic steroid (AAS) use is prevalent in fitness communities.
• Long-term health implications of AAS use require further investigation.
• Disability pension awards indicate a permanent loss of working ability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between AAS use and the risk of receiving a permanent disability pension.
• To quantify the risk of disability among individuals penalized for AAS use.
• To understand the long-term occupational health impact of AAS consumption.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study design was employed, including 1189 Danish males penalized for AAS use.
• A control group of 59,450 individuals from the general population was matched by age, sex, and inclusion date.
• Follow-up extended until autumn 2022, with adjustments for baseline covariates like comorbidities and psychiatric disorders.

Main Results:

• AAS users exhibited a significantly higher incidence of disability pension awards compared to controls.
• The unadjusted hazard ratio for disability pension was 1.95 (95% CI 1.50-2.54).
• After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk remained significant with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.57 (95% CI 1.18-2.08).

Conclusions:

• AAS use is strongly associated with an increased risk of permanent disability.
• Individuals using AAS face a significantly higher likelihood of being granted a disability pension.
• The findings underscore the severe long-term occupational health risks associated with AAS use.