Reproductive hormone levels predict changes in frailty status in community-dwelling older men: European Male Ageing Study prospective data

Swiecicka, A. et al. (2018) Reproductive hormone levels predict changes in frailty status in community-dwelling older men: European Male Ageing Study prospective data. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 103(2), pp. 701-709. (doi: 10.1210/jc.2017-01172) (PMID:29186457)

Abstract

Context: Clinical sequelae of androgen deficiency share common features with frailty. Evidence supporting the role of androgens in the development of frailty is limited and conflicting. Objective: To determine associations between male reproductive hormones and prospective changes in frailty status. Design/ Setting: 4.3-year prospective cohort study of community-dwelling men participating in the European Male Ageing Study. Participants: 3369 men aged 40-79 from 8 European centres. Intervention: nil. Main Outcome Measure: Frailty status was determined using frailty index (FI n=2278) and frailty phenotype (FP, n=1980). Results: After adjusting for baseline frailty, age, centre and smoking, the risk of worsening FI decreased with higher testosterone (T), free T and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) [% change (95%CI) in FI associated with 1SD higher hormone level: -3.0 (-5.9, -1.0) for total T; -3.9 (-6.8, -2.0) for free T; and -3.9 (-6.8, -2.0) for DHT]. After further adjustment for BMI, only free T remained a significant predictor of FI change. In fully adjusted models, higher LH and FSH were positively related to worsening FI only in men <60 years and higher estradiol predicted lower likelihood of improving FP [OR 0.68 (0.52, 0.88)]. Conclusions: These prospective data support the hypothesis that higher androgen levels may protect elderly men from worsening frailty. However, the causal nature of these relationships requires further investigation. Whereas raised gonadotropins in men <60 yr might be an early marker of frailty, the role of estradiol in frailty needs further clarification.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The European Male Ageing Study is funded by the Commission of the European Communities Fifth Framework Program “Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources” Grant QLK6- CT-2001-00258 and facilitated by the Manchester Biomedical Research Centre and the NIHR Greater Manchester: Clinical Research Network. Additional support was also provided by Arthritis Research UK Centre for Epidemiology and the National Institute for Health Research and the Manchester Biomedical Research Centre.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Lean, Professor Michael
• Authors: Swiecicka, A., Eendebak, R. J.A.H., Lunt, M., O'Neill, T. W., Bartfai, G., Casanueva, F. F., Forti, G., Giwercman, A., Han, T. S., Slowikowska-Hilczer, J., Lean, M. E.J., Pendleton, N., Punab, M., Vanderschueren, D., Huhtaniemi, I. T., Wu, F. C.W., and Rutter, M. K.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 0021-972X
• ISSN (Online): 1945-7197
• Published Online: 24 November 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 103(2): 701-709
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License