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. 2012 May;14(3):428-35.
doi: 10.1038/aja.2012.21. Epub 2012 Apr 23.

Testosterone and cardiovascular disease in men

Paul D Morris  1 , Kevin S Channer
Affiliations

Testosterone and cardiovascular disease in men

Paul D Morris et al. Asian J Androl. 2012 May.

Abstract

Despite regional variations in the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD), men are consistently more at risk of developing and dying from CAD than women, and the gender-specific effects of sex hormones are implicated in this inequality. This 'Perspectives' article reviews the current evidence regarding the cardiovascular effects of testosterone in men including an examination of the age-related decline in testosterone, the relationship between testosterone levels and coronary disease, coronary risk factors and mortality. We also review the vaso-active effects of testosterone, and discuss how these have been used in men with heart failure and angina. We discuss the 'cause' versus 'effect' controversy, regarding low testosterone levels in men with coronary heart disease, as well as concerns over the use of testosterone replacement therapy in middle aged and elderly men. The article concludes with a discussion regarding the future direction for work in this interesting area, including the relative merits of screening for, and treating hypogonadism with testosterone replacement therapy in men with heart disease.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A survival curve of all-cause mortality based on baseline Bio-T. The solid line represents patients with baseline Bio-T less than 2.6 nmol l−1, the broken line represents patients with Bio-T greater than 2.6 nmol l−1. Reproduced from Malkin et al. (2010). Bio-T, bioavailable testosterone; HR, hazard ratio.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A survival curve of vascular mortality based on baseline Bio-T. The solid line represents patients with baseline Bio-T less than 2.6 nmol l−1, the broken line represents patients with Bio-T greater than 2.6 nmol l−1. Reproduced from Malkin et al. (2010). Bio-T, bioavailable testosterone; HR, hazard ratio.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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