Serum testosterone and short-term mortality in men with acute myocardial infarction

Background: A significant and independent association between testosterone levels and coronary events in men and women has not been confirmed in large prospective studies, although some reports have shown that endogenous testosterone concentrations in men are inversely related to cardiovascular and general mortality. Methods: We aimed to assess the relationship between serum testosterone level and short-time (30-day) mortality in men with acute myocardial infarction. Results: We included 126 consecutive male patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction. The mean age was 62 ± 13 years. We determined, at admission, serum free testosterone (T) level (using a chemoluminiscence assay), high sensitivity C-reactive protein, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and glycated hemoglobin level. We analyzed the 30-day mortality. Conclusions: The mean level of serum T was 4.1 ± 2.9 ng/mL. All non-survivors had T level ≤ 3 ng/mL. A low level of T was independently related to total short-term mortality. (Cardiol J 2010; 17, 3: 249-253