Men with testosterone deficiency and a history of cardiovascular diseases benefit from long-term testosterone therapy: observational, real-life data from a registry study

Ahmad Haider,1 Aksam Yassin,2-4 Karim Sultan Haider,1 Gheorghe Doros,5 Farid Saad,4,6 Giuseppe MC Rosano7 1Private Urology Practice, Bremerhaven, 2Institute for Urology and Andrology, Segeberger Kliniken, Norderstedt, 3Department of Preventive Medicine, Men’s Health Program, Dresden International University, Dresden, Germany; 4Department of Urology, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; 5Department for Epidemiology and Statistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; 6Global Medical Affairs Andrology, Bayer Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany; 7Department of Cardiology, Centre for Clinical and Basic Science, San Raffaele-Roma, Rome, Italy Background/objectives: Long-term testosterone therapy (TTh) in men with hypogonadism has been shown to improve all components of the metabolic syndrome. In this study, we investigated the effects of long-term TTh up to 8 years in hypogonadal men with a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD).Patients and methods: In two urological clinics observational registries, we identified 77 hypogonadal men receiving TTh who also had a history of CVD. The effects of TTh on anthropometric and metabolic parameters were investigated for a maximum duration of 8 years. Any occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events was reported. All men received long-acting injections of testosterone undecanoate at 3-monthly intervals.Results: In 77 hypogonadal men with a history of CVD who received TTh, we observed a significant weight loss and a decrease in waist circumference and body mass index. Mean weight decreased from 114±13 kg to 91±9 kg, change from baseline: −24±1 kg and –20.2%±0.5%. Waist circumference decreased from 112±8 cm to 99±6 cm, change from baseline: −13±0.3 cm. Body mass index decreased from 37±4 to 29±3, change from baseline: −8±0.2 kg/m2. Cardiometabolic parameters such as lipid pattern, glycemic control, blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse pressure all improved significantly and sustainably. No patient suffered a major adverse cardiovascular event during the full observation time.Conclusion: In men with hypogonadism, TTh appears to be effective in achieving sustained improvements in all cardiometabolic risk factors and may be effective as an add-on measure in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in hypogonadal men with a history of CVD. Keywords: testosterone, long-term testosterone therapy, cardiovascular risk, hypogonadism, secondary preventio