Keeping the Genie in the Bottle Growth Hormone and Cardiovascular Disease ∗

Anabolic hormone use is increasingly common and includes replacement in patients with hormone deficiencies, questionable uses in those with borderline-low levels, and clear abuses among athletes aiming to gain a competitive advantage. Recently, direct-to-consumer marketing touting the benefits of “low T” treatment has led to increased testosterone use among middle-aged and older men, despite inadequate cardiovascular safety data. Although the Testosterone in Older Men Trial showed improvements in strength among treated patients, it was prematurely halted due to increased cardiovascular events in the treatment arm (1). Additionally, observational studies have demonstrated an association between testosterone prescription and increased myocardial infarction rates (2), as well as associations between testosterone therapy and adverse cardiovascular outcomes including all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke (3). Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an investigation of the safety of testosterone use, emphasizing that testosterone is only approved for use in men with low levels who have an associated medical condition (4).
Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research