Low Serum Testosterone and Mortality in Older Men

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Abstract
Context: Declining testosterone levels in elderly men are thought to underlie many of the symptoms and diseases of aging; however, studies demonstrating associations of low testosterone with clinical outcomes are few. Objective: The objective of the study was to examine the association of endogenous testosterone levels with mortality in older community-dwelling men. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a prospective, population-based study of 794 men, aged 50–91 (median 73.6) yr who had serum testosterone measurements at baseline (1984–1987) and were followed for mortality through July 2004. Main Outcome Measure: All-cause mortality by serum testosterone level was measured. Results: During an average 11.8-yr follow-up, 538 deaths occurred. Men whose total testosterone levels were in the lowest quartile (Conclusions: Testosterone insufficiency in older men is associated with increased risk of death over the following 20 yr, independent of multiple risk factors and several preexisting health conditions.

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