ASSOCIATION OF SERUM TESTOSTERONE WITH THE COMPLICATIONS OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Abstract

Objective: The objectives of the study were to assess (1) if serum levels oftestosterone differ between men with and those without ST-elevation myocardialinfarction, and (2) to determine the association of testosterone with the outcomeof ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methodology: This was hospital based case control study, conducted atCoronary Care Unit of Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya, Galle, Sri Lanka fromJanuary 2010 to December 2011. Two hundred and six males (103 patients withSTEMI and 103 controls without a history of CAD) were studied.Serum total testosterone, lipids and plasma glucose wereestimated.

Results: The basal serum total testosterone in patients was significantly lowercompared to controls (11.47 ± 3.3 vs. 18.15 ± 7.2 nmol/L, P = 0.001). Theresults showed that total testosterone (P = 0.001; OR = 0.75; 95 % CI = 0.66 -0.85) was a significant independent predictor of STEMI and it was a significantindependent predictors of in-hospital complications (P = 0.003, OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.2 - 2.36).

Conclusion: Men with STEMI have significantly lower basal serum totaltestosterone compared to controls. Low testosterone is a risk factor of STEMI.Testosterone was independently related to the development of in-hospitalcomplications of STEMI.