Correlation between Serum Testosterone Levels and Functional Capacity in Males with Congestive Heart Failure

摘要

Background and Objectives: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is an important and growing public health concern, leading to high mortality. Despite the advances in the treatment modalities of CHF, reducing the rate of hospitalization due to CHF is still an unresolved challenge. Regarding the significant role of anabolic hormones in the reduction of muscle mass, strength and endurance. This study aimed to determine the effects of serum testosterone levels on the functional capacity in males with CHF. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 49 males with CHF, referring to private cardiac clinics in Mashhad, Iran, during 2015-16. Data were collected, using clinical examinations and Echocardiography results. The transthoracic Echocardiographic assessment (M-mode, Doppler and two dimensional) was performed for all of the patients, using a GE Vivid 3 ultrasound system. Blood samples were collected from all patients to assess the testosterone levels and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Furthermore, to test the patients? exercise tolerance, the six-minute walk test (6 MWT) was employed. The correlation between subjects' serum testosterone level and other variables were evaluated. One-way ANOVA, Spearman correlation coefficient and SPSS was used to analyze the data. Results: The mean age of the study subjects were 60.71±7.41 years. The comparison between the studied variables and testosterone showed that there was no significant correlation between age (r = -0.279, p = 0.052), BMI (r = 0.057, p = 0.697), left ventricle (LV) diastolic size (r = -0.12, p = 0.41), right ventricular (RV) systolic function (r = 0.206, p = 0.156), NT-proBNP (r = -0.197, p = 0.174) and testosterone. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between 6 MWT (r = 0.854, pConclusion: According to the findings of this study, 6 MWT score was higher in patients with high testosterone level. In addition, RV size and LV ejection fraction were affected by testosterone levels. Consequently, this study demonstrated that the testosterone affected the physical activity in the males with CHF.