Journal
ARCHIVES OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
Volume 166, Issue 13, Pages 1380-1388Publisher
AMER MEDICAL ASSOC
DOI: 10.1001/archinte.166.13.1380
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Funding
- Intramural NIH HHS [Z99 AG999999] Funding Source: Medline
- NIA NIH HHS [N01-AG-821336, N01-AG-916413] Funding Source: Medline
- NIMHD NIH HHS [263 MD 821336, R01 MD009164, 263 MD 9164 13] Funding Source: Medline
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Background: Anemia is a frequent feature of male hypogonadism and anti-androgenic treatment. We hypothesized that the presence of low testosterone levels in older persons is a risk factor for anemia. Methods: Testosterone and hemoglobin levels were measured in a representative sample of 905 persons 65 years or older without cancer, renal insufficiency, or anti-androgenic treatments. Hemoglobin levels were reassessed after 3 years. Results: At baseline, 31 men and 57 women had anemia. Adjusting for confounders, we found that total and bioavailable testosterone levels were associated with hemoglobin levels in women (P = .001 and P = .02, respectively) and in men (P < .001 and P = .03, respectively). Men and women in the lowest quartile of total and bioavailable testosterone were more likely than those in the highest to have anemia (men, 14/99 vs 3/100; odds ratio [OR], 5.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-21.8 for total and 16/99 vs 1/99; OR, 13.1; 95% CI, 1.5-116.9 for bioavailable testosterone; women, 21/129 vs 12/127; OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 0.9-5.0 for total and 24/127 vs 6/127; OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.2-9.4 for bioavailable testosterone). Among nonanemic participants and independent of confounders, men and women with low vs normal total and bioavailable testosterone levels had a significantly higher risk of developing anemia at 3-year follow-up (21/167 vs 28/444; relative risk, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1-4.1 for total and 26/143 vs 23/468; relative risk, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.9-7.8 for bioavailable testosterone). Conclusion: Older men and women with low testosterone levels have a higher risk of anemia.
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