A new study suggests that testosterone increases the risk of older men on heart attacks and stroke. Health experts recommend that patients should discuss and monitor the effects of the drug before medication.
Testosterone is usually prescribed for men who have hypogonadism, a condition characterized by the inability to produce the normal levels of testosterone. It usually manifests later in life or as a result of an injury or infection. Some also use this to heighten their sexual functions and muscle strength.
A group of researchers led by Dr. P. Michael Ho from the Veterans Affair Medical Center gathered data of 8,700 testosterone-deficient males. As a reference for their initial health indicators, they were checked for any signs of plaque buildup in their arteries between 2005 and 2011.
Their analysis revealed that one in every seven of the participants began with testosterone medications either through patches, injections or gels. After three years of continued use, the researchers found that 20 percent of those who discontinued their medications had heart attacks, stroke or passed away. In contrast there were 26 percent from those who were still taking the medication.
The researchers studied the connection of these incidences to how much of their arteries were blocked at the time of the first test. They found that there is a 29 percent more risk of stroke, heart attack or death for those who had testosterone medications. Further, there was no link from these to the differences in cholesterol levels or blood pressure or heart medications between the two groups.
The report even stated that those who used testosterone had milder cases of health issues compared to those who did not take testosterone medications.
Since the research focused on males around the age of early 60s, the testosterone effects on younger or healthier males are uncertain. Majority of the participants had signs of high blood pressure, blocked arteries and various other health issues.
Researchers recommend that doctors should be more open to their patients about the risks of taking the medication. “Maybe when patients and their physicians are thinking about starting testosterone therapy, potential risks such as the ones we looked at should be in that discussion,” Ho told Reuters.
"I think (taking testosterone) is an individual decision, but I think it's worth weighing the potential benefits of testosterone therapy versus any potential risks before starting it," he further explained.
The study was published in the Nov. 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
