The FDA’s proposed label modifications for testosterone therapy could increase access to this well-liked hormone medication. However, those men who are thinking about using the medicine or who are already doing so should exercise caution. According to a new study, men who use testosterone without showing signs of low testosterone (hypogonadism) are more likely to die from all causes and have major cardiovascular issues than men who receive testosterone replacement treatment (TRT) for hypogonadism.
Researchers identified men using testosterone between the ages of 30 and 75 using information from electronic health records from 123 health care organizations worldwide. Approximately one-third of the nearly 359,000 males receiving the hormone showed no signs of hypogonadism. Men with hypogonadism who were prescribed TRT were compared to testosterone users who did not have hypogonadism but otherwise shared similar characteristics (e.g., age and general health).
Compared to men taken TRT for hypogonadism, men on testosterone who did not have hypogonadism had a nearly 50% increased risk of significant heart issues (such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiac arrest) after a 10-year follow-up. Additionally, testosterone users without hypogonadism had almost twice the risk of dying from any cause.