Association between serum testosterone and measures of cardiovascular health among transgender individuals using gender-affirming testosterone therapy: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Gender-affirming testosterone therapy (GATT) use may be associated with increased systolic blood pressure (SBP). The association between serum testosterone and cardiovascular health in individuals using GATT is unknown. The objective of this study was to estimate the association...
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BMC
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Biology of Sex Differences |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13293-025-00726-3 |
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| author | Badal S. B. Pattar Tyrone G. Harrison Nathalie Saad Sandra M. Dumanski A.J. Lowik Paul E. Ronksley Dina N. Greene Cameron T. Whitley Chantal L. Rytz Keila Turino Miranda Lindsay Peace Amelia M. Newbert Darlene Y. Sola Sofia B. Ahmed |
| author_facet | Badal S. B. Pattar Tyrone G. Harrison Nathalie Saad Sandra M. Dumanski A.J. Lowik Paul E. Ronksley Dina N. Greene Cameron T. Whitley Chantal L. Rytz Keila Turino Miranda Lindsay Peace Amelia M. Newbert Darlene Y. Sola Sofia B. Ahmed |
| author_sort | Badal S. B. Pattar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Gender-affirming testosterone therapy (GATT) use may be associated with increased systolic blood pressure (SBP). The association between serum testosterone and cardiovascular health in individuals using GATT is unknown. The objective of this study was to estimate the association between serum testosterone and validated measures of cardiovascular health, including SBP and arterial stiffness, in persons assigned female sex at birth using GATT. Methods Healthy participants assigned female sex at birth on a stable GATT regimen for ≥ 4 months were recruited to this community-partnered exploratory cross-sectional study. Exposures of interest were total and free serum testosterone concentration. As our primary outcome, SBP was measured by an automated sphygmomanometer, and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (PWVcr) and aortic augmentation index (AIx) were used to measure arterial stiffness via applanation tonometry. Results Participants (n = 18, median age 28 years, range: 18, 50) who predominantly self-identified as white (94%) and had been using GATT for a median of 48 months (range: 5, 84) were studied. Resting SBP, PWVcr, and AIx were 113 mmHg (range: 102, 129), 7 m/s (range: 4, 9), and 9% (range: − 10, 23), respectively. Total and free serum testosterone were not significantly associated with SBP or PWVcr. Free, but not total, serum testosterone was positively associated with AIx (p = 0.03). Sensitivity analyses did not modify any results. Conclusions In healthy transgender individuals, serum testosterone concentrations may not be associated with measures of cardiovascular health. However, these results need to be interpreted with caution given the limited sample size. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7fb01d1ee17043139812f2fb29d48618 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2042-6410 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology of Sex Differences |
| spelling | doaj-art-7fb01d1ee17043139812f2fb29d486182025-08-20T02:36:49ZengBMCBiology of Sex Differences2042-64102025-06-0116111010.1186/s13293-025-00726-3Association between serum testosterone and measures of cardiovascular health among transgender individuals using gender-affirming testosterone therapy: a cross-sectional studyBadal S. B. Pattar0Tyrone G. Harrison1Nathalie Saad2Sandra M. Dumanski3A.J. Lowik4Paul E. Ronksley5Dina N. Greene6Cameron T. Whitley7Chantal L. Rytz8Keila Turino Miranda9Lindsay Peace10Amelia M. Newbert11Darlene Y. Sola12Sofia B. Ahmed13Cumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryDepartment of Sociology, University of LethbridgeCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, University of WashingtonDepartment of Sociology, Western Washington UniversityCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCardiovascular Health and Autonomic Regulation Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill UniversitySkipping Stone FoundationSkipping Stone FoundationCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryAbstract Background Gender-affirming testosterone therapy (GATT) use may be associated with increased systolic blood pressure (SBP). The association between serum testosterone and cardiovascular health in individuals using GATT is unknown. The objective of this study was to estimate the association between serum testosterone and validated measures of cardiovascular health, including SBP and arterial stiffness, in persons assigned female sex at birth using GATT. Methods Healthy participants assigned female sex at birth on a stable GATT regimen for ≥ 4 months were recruited to this community-partnered exploratory cross-sectional study. Exposures of interest were total and free serum testosterone concentration. As our primary outcome, SBP was measured by an automated sphygmomanometer, and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (PWVcr) and aortic augmentation index (AIx) were used to measure arterial stiffness via applanation tonometry. Results Participants (n = 18, median age 28 years, range: 18, 50) who predominantly self-identified as white (94%) and had been using GATT for a median of 48 months (range: 5, 84) were studied. Resting SBP, PWVcr, and AIx were 113 mmHg (range: 102, 129), 7 m/s (range: 4, 9), and 9% (range: − 10, 23), respectively. Total and free serum testosterone were not significantly associated with SBP or PWVcr. Free, but not total, serum testosterone was positively associated with AIx (p = 0.03). Sensitivity analyses did not modify any results. Conclusions In healthy transgender individuals, serum testosterone concentrations may not be associated with measures of cardiovascular health. However, these results need to be interpreted with caution given the limited sample size.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13293-025-00726-3TransgenderGender-affirming hormone therapyTestosteroneSerum testosteroneCardiovascular healthBlood pressure |
| spellingShingle | Badal S. B. Pattar Tyrone G. Harrison Nathalie Saad Sandra M. Dumanski A.J. Lowik Paul E. Ronksley Dina N. Greene Cameron T. Whitley Chantal L. Rytz Keila Turino Miranda Lindsay Peace Amelia M. Newbert Darlene Y. Sola Sofia B. Ahmed Association between serum testosterone and measures of cardiovascular health among transgender individuals using gender-affirming testosterone therapy: a cross-sectional study Biology of Sex Differences Transgender Gender-affirming hormone therapy Testosterone Serum testosterone Cardiovascular health Blood pressure |
| title | Association between serum testosterone and measures of cardiovascular health among transgender individuals using gender-affirming testosterone therapy: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Association between serum testosterone and measures of cardiovascular health among transgender individuals using gender-affirming testosterone therapy: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Association between serum testosterone and measures of cardiovascular health among transgender individuals using gender-affirming testosterone therapy: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between serum testosterone and measures of cardiovascular health among transgender individuals using gender-affirming testosterone therapy: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Association between serum testosterone and measures of cardiovascular health among transgender individuals using gender-affirming testosterone therapy: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | association between serum testosterone and measures of cardiovascular health among transgender individuals using gender affirming testosterone therapy a cross sectional study |
| topic | Transgender Gender-affirming hormone therapy Testosterone Serum testosterone Cardiovascular health Blood pressure |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13293-025-00726-3 |
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