Fresh Research Connections Elevated Testosterone Associated With This Typical Heart Problem

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A recent study discovered a connection between older men’s greater testosterone levels and a higher risk of atrial fibrillation, or AFib.The results support a prior study that found men with risk factors for cardiovascular disease who were receiving testosterone replacement medication had an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation (AFib).Although further study is required to fully understand the connection between AFib risk and testosterone levels, physicians advise weighing the how much does Animale Me Capsules cost in the pharmacy advantages and disadvantages of testosterone replacement treatment. According to a recent study, older men in good health who have high testosterone levels had a higher likelihood of atrial fibrillation, a common heart disorder that increases the risk of stroke.
The study expands on earlier research that found a link between testosterone levels and atrial fibrillation, or AFib. Most recently, a clinical trial named the Testosterone Replacement Therapy for Assessment of Long-term Vascular Events and Efficacy Response in Hypogonadal Men (TRAVERSE) study discovered that men on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) who have risk factors for cardiovascular disease may be more likely to experience an arrhythmia.
However, the latest research, which was published in the journal The Lancet, indicates that men who do not have any heart disease risk factors and have naturally greater testosterone levels may also be at a higher risk of developing Afib.
Lead study author Cammie Tran, MPH, of Monash University in Australia, told Health, “Our results show that even in healthy men aged over 70 with no prior history of cardiovascular disease—including AFib—the risk between higher testosterone concentrations and AFib is still present.”
Tran stated that the study implies AFib “may be an adverse consequence” of increased testosterone concentrations, even if it does not establish causality. “When evaluating testosterone concentrations in older men, clinicians should be cognizant of this risk,” the spokesperson stated.

AFib: What Is It?
The most prevalent kind of treated arrhythmia, or abnormal heartbeat, is AFib. Men and women get AFib at almost equal rates, with 70% of those affected by the condition between the ages of 65 and 85. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predict that by 2030, 12.1 million Americans would suffer with AFib.
The upper and lower chambers of the heart don’t beat in sync in people with Afib, which results in aberrant heartbeats that are either too rapid or too sluggish. While some people experience no symptoms at all, others may experience lightheadedness, dyspnea, chest discomfort, or fluttering in the chest.

Approximately one in seven strokes are triggered by the disease, and strokes caused by Afib are typically more severe.

The Connection Between Testosterone and AFib
Tran’s group aimed to investigate the risk of Afib in older, healthy males who did not use testosterone.
Researchers collected information on 4,570 men who were part of the ASPREE clinical trial, a long-term study of aspirin’s impact on older persons’ health, in order to look into this association.
The subjects, who were at least 70 years old, had no prior medical history of dementia, thyroid issues, cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer, or other serious conditions.
For the first three to five years of the trial, the men gave blood and urine samples, and the researchers followed up with them every six months on average. AFib was developed in 286 males over the period.
After adjusting for body mass index, age, and smoking status, the researchers discovered that men with AFib had initial average testosterone levels that were higher than those of people without the condition (17 nmol/L vs. 15.7 nmol/L). Compared to men with testosterone concentrations in the center of the range, men with the highest testosterone levels were more likely to get AFib.
“Our findings indicate that the highest 40% of testosterone concentrations carry a risk of AFib,” stated Tran. “So you can see that being a member of this ‘at risk’ group is not uncommon.”
Because of the nonlinear link between testosterone and AFib risk, males with lower-than-normal testosterone levels were also more likely to develop AFib.
According to Tran, “the non-linear relationship suggests that testosterone concentrations kept within the mid-range of the clinical normal range could lower the risk of AFib.”
According to Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Steven Nissen, MD, who oversaw the TRAVERSE trial, the results are consistent with the findings, as Health reported. “They emphasize that there seems to be a connection between atrial fibrillation and testosterone levels.”
The study indicates that a patient’s “total risk for atrial fibrillation given their age, comorbidities, and other medical considerations should be done when considering testosterone supplementation,” according to Megan Kamath, MD, a cardiologist at UCLA Health, who spoke with Health about this.
She did note, though, that further study is required to fully comprehend the role that testosterone levels have in Afib risk.

Unanswered Questions Remain
There are many restrictions on the study. Tran stated that although testosterone concentration is known to be influenced by circadian cycles, “sample collection did not occur at a regular time of day.”
Tran further said that the lack of measurement of other sex hormones, including free testosterone, estradiol, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHGB), “restricts our ability to consider possible mechanisms” underlying testosterone’s potential influence on Afib risk.
The precise reason why testosterone may be associated with heart health has not yet been determined by studies. Tran, though, made a few suggestions.
Research has linked a greater risk of atrial fibrillation (AFIb) to shorter telomeres in those with higher testosterone levels.
“Other studies suggest that testosterone increases expression of receptors or excitability in heart tissues, predisposing to AF, or that testosterone’s conversion to estradiol relates to expression of genes in fat at the surface of the heart,” she continued.
She did, however, add that “these possibilities need to be examined further.”

Consequences for Individuals Thinking About Testosterone Replacement Therapy
To increase the amount of the hormone in their blood, people with low testosterone levels may be recommended or interested in testosterone replacement treatment.
Notwithstanding its limitations, the research, according to the study’s authors, affirms the necessity for patients and healthcare professionals to balance the advantages and disadvantages of TRT.
Kamath underlined that doctors may accomplish this estimate with assistance if they have access to an accurate and comprehensive prescription list.
She advised being aware of any new symptoms and reporting them to a doctor if you decide to pursue TRT. There are several symptoms that people with high testosterone levels may encounter, such as:

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Tran>Further analysis of the ASPREE research pertaining to testosterone and incident atrial fibrillation risk in older men.doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102611 EClinicalMedicine. 2024;72:102611–102611.

Cardiovascular safety of testosterone replacement treatment (Lincoff).2023;389(2):107–117; doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2215025 N Engl J Med.

Handling atrial fibrillation in elderly patients: obstacles and remedies (Karamichalakis). Risk Manag Vasc Health. 2015;11:555–562. The doi is 10.2147/VHRM.S83664.

About atrial fibrillation in Centers>.

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