Lower plasma testosterone or dihydrotesterone, but not estradiol is assoicated with symptoms of intermittent claudication in older men

Yeap, Bu B., Alfonso, Helman, Chubb, S.A. Paul, Handelsman, David J., Hankey, Graeme J., Golledge, Jonathan, Flicker, Leon, and Norman, Paul E. (2013) Lower plasma testosterone or dihydrotesterone, but not estradiol is assoicated with symptoms of intermittent claudication in older men. Clinical Endocrinology, 79 (5). pp. 725-732.

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Abstract

Objective: In men, testosterone (T) levels decline with age, and lower T predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. However, the associations of T and its metabolites, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol (E2), with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease remain unclear. We assessed associations of T, DHT and E2 with lower limb intermittent claudication in older men.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Participants: Community-dwelling men aged 70–89 years resident in Perth, Western Australia.

Measurements:Intermittent claudication was ascertained by the Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire. Early morning, plasma T, DHT and E2 were assayed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry.

Results: There were 268 men with intermittent claudication and 2435 without claudication or any leg pain. Men with nonspecific leg pain (n = 986) were excluded. After adjusting for age, smoking, BMI, waist/hip ratio, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, creatinine and prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD), higher T was associated with reduced risk of having claudication (per 1 SD increase, odds ratio [OR] = 0·80, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0·69–0·94, P = 0·006; quartiles, Q4/Q1, OR = 0·54, 95% CI = 0·36–0·81). Higher DHT was associated with reduced risk of having claudication (per 1 SD increase, OR = 0·86, 95% CI = 0·73–1·00, P = 0·048; Q4/Q1, OR = 0·64, 95% CI = 0·43–0·95). E2 was not associated with claudication (per 1 SD increase, OR = 0·96, 95% CI = 0·83–1·11, P = 0·565; Q4/Q1, OR = 0·88, 95% CI = 0·60–1·29).

Conclusions: Lower T or DHT levels, but not E2, are associated with symptoms of intermittent claudication in older men. Reduced exposure to androgens may represent a causal factor or biomarker for symptomatic peripheral arterial disease. Further studies are needed to examine underlying mechanisms and evaluate therapeutic options in ageing men.

Item ID: 27265
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1365-2265
Funders: Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation, National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia
Projects and Grants: The Health In Men Study
Date Deposited: 31 May 2013 02:33
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1102 Cardiovascular Medicine and Haematology > 110201 Cardiology (incl Cardiovascular Diseases) @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9201 Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) > 920103 Cardiovascular System and Diseases @ 100%
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