Erschienen in:Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Sprache:
Englisch
DOI:
10.1046/j.1532-5415.2003.51515.x
ISSN:
0002-8614;
1532-5415
Entstehung:
Anmerkungen:
Beschreibung:
<jats:p><jats:bold>Objectives: </jats:bold> To assess the relationship between endogenous androgen levels and arterial stiffness in older men.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Design: </jats:bold> A retrospective, cross‐sectional study.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Setting: </jats:bold> A London hospital‐based, clinical research unit for the elderly.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Participants: </jats:bold> Fifty‐five men (mean age±standard deviation=71.1±8.0).</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Intervention: </jats:bold> Sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG), testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) were measured in all subjects who had a stored serum sample drawn the same day as arterial stiffness measures were performed. Free testosterone index (FTI) was calculated ((total testosterone/SHBG)×100 (%)). The measures of arterial stiffness used were pulse wave velocity (PWV) using the Complior system and systemic arterial compliance (SAC) using the area method.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Measurements: </jats:bold> Relationship between arterial stiffness and serum androgens.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Results: </jats:bold> FTI showed a strong positive relationship with SAC (<jats:italic>r</jats:italic>=0.507, <jats:italic>P</jats:italic><<jats:italic>.</jats:italic>001) and, correspondingly, an inverse relationship with carotid‐femoral (C‐F) and carotid‐radial (C‐R) PWV (<jats:italic>r</jats:italic>=–0.427 and –0.402, respectively, <jats:italic>P</jats:italic>≤.002). With multiple regression, including age, blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, and waist/hip ratio, FTI remained a significant determinant of SAC and C‐R PWV but not C‐F PWV. In the subgroup of men without cardiovascular disease or vasoactive medication use (n=37), all three relationships remained significant. DHEAS was inversely related to C‐F PWV only (<jats:italic>r</jats:italic>=–0.304, <jats:italic>P</jats:italic>=<jats:italic>.</jats:italic>041).</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Conclusion: </jats:bold> The known association between lower androgenicity and increased cardiovascular risk in men might be explained by altered vascular stiffness.</jats:p>