The Role of Testosterone in Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review
Abstract
The consequences of heart failure (HF) remain high despite treatment advances. Deficiency of the anabolic axes is common in HF and is associated with an increased risk of death and worsening functional status. Exogenous testosterone use has been shown to decrease vascular resistance and improve cardiac output. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy (mortality, hospitalization, cardiac function, and quality of life) and safety of testosterone in HF patients. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Four electronic databases were searched from inception until November 30, 2019. The initial search yielded 1308 articles, and 10 randomized controlled trials with exogenous testosterone in patients with HF were included after exclusion criteria were applied. One study evaluated the impact of testosterone on mortality and HF hospitalization; no difference was observed compared with placebo. In 5 studies, testosterone use was associated with an improvement in walking distance. In 1 of the 2 studies that evaluated functional status, New York Heart Association class was improved. In 2 out of 4 studies, quality of life was improved with therapy. When reported, testosterone use was not associated with an increase in side effects. Overall, testosterone use has not been shown to reduce the risk of death or HF hospitalization, with inconsistent evidence on the impact of therapy on quality of life.…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Induced osteoblast differentiation by amide derivatives of stilbene: The possible osteogenic agents
- On model selections for repeated measurement data in clinical studies
- Regulation of GLUT transporters by flavonoids in androgen-sensitive and -insensitive prostate cancer cells
- Region-specific microRNA signatures in the human epididymis
- Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking of 4-Amino-2H-benzo[h]chromen-2-one (ABO) analogs containing the piperazine moiety
- In Vitro characterization of the endocrine disrupting effects of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) on the human androgen receptor
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.