Serum Androgens and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Older Men: The Cardiovascular Health Study

    June 2018 in “ Clinical cardiology ”
    Michael Rosenberg, Molly M. Shores, Alvin M. Matsumoto, Petra Bůžková, Leslie A. Lange, Richard A. Kronmal, Susan R. Heckbert, Kenneth J. Mukamal
    TLDR Older men with low levels of a testosterone byproduct had a higher chance of developing an irregular heartbeat.
    The study "Serum androgens and risk of atrial fibrillation in older men: The Cardiovascular Health Study" examined 1,019 older men over a median follow-up of 9.5 years and found that low levels of free dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). Specifically, men with free DHT levels below 0.16 ng/dL had a higher risk of developing AF, with a hazard ratio of 1.48. The study also noted a complex nonlinear association between sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and AF risk. These findings suggested that low free DHT is a significant risk factor for AF in older men, highlighting the need for further research into the underlying mechanisms and potential implications for hormone replacement therapy.
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