Androgen status in non-diabetic elderly men with heart failure

Abstract

Purpose: We aimed at evaluating androgen status (serum testosterone [TT] and estimated free testosterone [eFT]) and its determinants in non-diabetic elderly men with heart failure (HF). Additionally, we investigated its associations with body composition and long-term survival.Methods: Seventy three non-diabetic men with HF and 20 healthy men aged over 55years were studied. Echocardiography, 6-min walk test, grip strength, body composition measurement by DEXA method were performed. TT, sex hormone binding globulin, NT-proBNP, and adipokines (adiponectin and leptin) were measured. All-cause mortality was evaluated at six years of follow-up.Results: Androgen status (TT, eFT) was similar in elderly men with HF compared to healthy controls (4.791.65 vs. 4.45 +/- 1.68ng/ml and 0.409 +/- 0.277 vs. 0.350 +/- 0.204nmol/l, respectively). In HF patients, TT was positively associated with NT-proBNP (r=0.371, p=0.001) and adiponectin levels (r=0.349, p=0.002), while inverse association was noted with fat mass (r=-0.413, p LT 0.001). TT and eFT were independently determined by age, total fat mass and adiponectin levels in elderly men with HF (p LT 0.05 for all). Androgen status was not predictor for all-cause mortality at six years of follow-up.Conclusions: In non-diabetic men with HF, androgen status is not altered and is not predictive of long-term outcome.