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Higher circulating androgens and higher physical activity levels are associated with less central adiposity and lower risk of cardiovascular death in older men
Author(s) -
Chasland Lauren C.,
Knuiman Matthew W.,
Divitini Mark L.,
Murray Kevin,
Handelsman David J.,
Flicker Leon,
Hankey Graeme J.,
Almeida Osvaldo P.,
Golledge Jonathan,
Ridgers Nicola D.,
Naylor Louise H.,
Green Daniel J.,
Yeap Bu B.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/cen.13905
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , physical activity , obesity , testosterone (patch) , physical therapy
Objective Low endogenous sex hormones and low physical activity (PA) levels have been associated with CVD risk. Whether these interact to influence CVD outcomes remains unclear. We assessed whether sex hormone concentrations and PA were additively associated with lower central adiposity and CVD risk. Patients 3351 community‐dwelling men, mean age 77 years. Measurements Baseline testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and oestradiol (E2) were assayed. Levels of PA were ascertained by questionnaire. Men were stratified using median splits into high hormone + high PA (H/H), high hormone + low PA (H/L); low hormone + high PA (L/H) and low hormone + low PA (L/L) groups. Results A total of 865 CVD events and 499 CVD deaths occurred during 10‐year mean follow‐up. Men with higher T, DHT or SHBG and higher PA had the lowest BMI, waist circumference and risk of metabolic syndrome. Men with higher T had the lowest risk of incident CVD events, irrespective of PA level. Men with higher T or DHT and higher PA had the lowest risk of dying from CVD (eg, hazard ratios for T/PA H/H 0.76 P = 0.031; H/L 0.85 P = 0.222; L/H 0.80 P = 0.075; L/L 1.00). Conclusion Higher circulating androgens and higher PA were associated with less central adiposity at baseline and fewer CVD deaths during follow‐up. These findings are consistent with a potential additive effect of androgens and PA on cardiometabolic outcomes in older men.