Association of Serum Testosterone and Luteinizing Hormone With Blood Pressure and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Middle‐Aged and Elderly Men

Abstract

Background The age‐related decline in testosterone levels is thought to be of great importance for male aging and cardiovascular diseases. However, data are controversial on whether abnormal sex hormones are linked to the presence of cardiovascular diseases and it is also uncertain how blood pressure modifies the association between testosterone levels and major cardiovascular diseases. Methods and Results This is a multicenter, population‐based, cross‐sectional study of 6296 men conducted between 2013 and 2016. Basic information and clinical symptoms were obtained by questionnaires. Blood pressure and plasma levels of total testosterone, sex hormone–binding globulin, luteinizing hormone, and free testosterone were determined in men in a multistage random, cluster sampling in 6 provinces of China. There were 5786 Chinese men (mean [SD] age 55.0 [10.1] years) included after exclusion criteria were applied; 37.2% (2150) of them were diagnosed with hypertension. Total testosterone, free testosterone, and sex hormone–binding globulin were inversely associated with the prevalence of hypertension. Age >65 years or body mass index ≥24 negatively impacted the inverse correlation between testosterone levels and hypertension, whereas smoking and family history of hypertension strengthened the correlation. In participants with grade 2 hypertension, total testosterone was positively associated with the presence of stroke, and luteinizing hormone was also positively correlated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Conclusions Lower total testosterone could be a promising risk marker for prevalent hypertension. Both low and high levels of testosterone are associated with greater cardiovascular risk. Primary hypogonadism may be a risk marker for major cardiovascular diseases in men with severe hypertension.

The dose-response relationship between sex hormones and hyperuricemia in different gender: NHANES 2013-2016

“…The prevalence of low testosterone (total T<11.1nmol/L) in men over 60 is about 20% (30), and low T is associated with insulin resistance, hypertension, and CVD (31,32). The Multivariable logistic regression analysis between sex hormones and HUA, after adjusting for variables (except for the grouped variables) such as age, BMI, WC, HT, DM, MS, CKD, CVD, HLP, eth, PA and alcohol drinking.…”

Clinical Features of Craniopharyngioma With Tumoral Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Case-Controlled Study

“…In our study, patients with pituitary deficiency at admission accounted for 56.89% in the non-hemorrhage group and 83.33% in the hemorrhage group. Furthermore, it was reported that in men with severe hypertension, primary hypogonadism may be a risk factor of major cardiovascular diseases ( 31 ). Decreased LH may affect the vascular tissue and provoke bleeding by the extragonadally expressed lutropin/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHR) ( 32 , 33 ).…”

Does Exist a Differential Impact of Degarelix Versus LHRH Agonists on Cardiovascular Safety? Evidences From Randomized and Real-World Studies

“…In some observational studies an inverse correlation between testosterone serum levels and blood pressure or CVD risk has been shown (8,9). Qu et al (6) in a population-based, crosssectional study on 6296 men reported an inverse correlation between testosterone (total, free testosterone, and sex hormonebinding globulin) levels and the prevalence of hypertension or CVDs. Age > 65 years and body mass index > 24 negatively impacted the inverse association between testosterone and hypertension (Table 1).…”

“…The age-related decline in testosterone serum levels in men has been described as a possible cause for the increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Testosterone can activate both vasodilator and vasoconstrictor pathways, but it is more pro-hypertensive in different models (6). Testosterone is also an anabolic hormone promoting muscle mass, fat loss, and therefore low levels of testosterone can be associated with a metabolic syndrome involving obesity and hypertension (7).…”