P-208: Plasma testosterone in isolated systolic hypertension:

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare plasma testosterone levels of elderly men with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) with those of elderly normotensive controls.

We investigated 119 newly diagnosed never treated elderly men with ISH (SBP > 140 mmHg DBP < 90 mmHg) and 106 healthy normotensive (SBP ≤ 140 mmHg DBP < 90 mmHg) controls. All of them were aged 60 to 79 years, non diabetic, nonobese (BMI < 28 Kg/m²) non smoking. All subjects were evaluated in the morning after an overnight fast. Evaluation included BP, BMI, determination of plasma testosterone.

The characteristics of the two groups are shown in the Table.

Characteristics of the 2 Groups

	Normotensive	Hypertensive	P
Age (y)	71.6 ± 6.3	72.1 ± 64	NS
BMI(Kg/m2)	25.7 ± 1.1	25.2 ± 1.2	NS
SBP (mmHg)	131.4 ± 7.2	171.6 ± 14.3	<0,001
DBP (mmHg)	84.3 ± 4.1	85.5 ± 4.5	NS
Testosterone (ng/dl)	486.3 ± 136.1	415.4 ± 141.6	<0,01

Hypertensive men presented 14% lower level in plasma total testosterone. In both normotensive and hypertensive men Pearson's correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between testosterone and age and between testosterone and BP values. Multiple regression analysis confirmed the inverse relationship between testosterone and age in normotensive but not in hypertensive ones. In addition a significant inverse correlation between testosterone and SBP (t value −2.54 Pr>/t/ 0.012)was confirmed only in hypertensive men.

In conclusion these findings suggest that in elderly men with isolated systolic hypertension there is a lower plasma testosterone level than in normotensive and a strong relationship between systolic blood pressure and impaired testosterone levels. The nature of such a relationship and its physiological and clinical significance needs further investigation.

Systolic isolated hypertension, testosterone, elderly