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Testosterone Improves Rehabilitation Outcomes in Ill Older Men
Author(s) -
Bakhshi Virat,
Elliott Marjorie,
Gentili Angela,
Godschalk Michael,
Mulligan Thomas
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2000.tb05002.x
Subject(s) - medicine , testosterone (patch) , grip strength , placebo , rehabilitation , functional independence measure , randomized controlled trial , physical therapy , hand strength , veterans affairs , alternative medicine , pathology
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether testosterone supplementation improves rehabilitation outcomes in ill older men. DESIGN: A randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind study. SETTING: A Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) unit based at a university‐ affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen men aged 65 to 90 years admitted to the GEM for rehabilitation. INTERVENTION: Subjects were randomized to receive weekly intramuscular injections with testosterone enanthate 100 mg or placebo. MEASUREMENTS: Task‐specific performance using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and grip strength was measured at the onset of the study and at the time of discharge from the GEM. RESULTS: At baseline, FIM scores were similar between the placebo and the testosterone group (73.7 vs 70.7, P = .637), as was grip strength (49.7 vs 55.3 pounds, P = .555). At discharge from the GEM, testosterone‐treated patients had improved FIM scores compared with baseline (93.6 vs 70.7; P = .012) and grip strength (68.7 vs 55.3 pounds; P = .033). In the placebo group there was no significant improvement of FIM scores compared with baseline (78.0 versus 73.7; P = .686) or of grip strength (48.9 vs 49.7 pounds; P = .686). CONCLUSIONS: Testosterone supplementation may improve rehabilitation outcomes in ill older men. J Am Geriatr Soc 48: 550–553, 2000 .