title: The relationship between androgens and arterial stiffness in older men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship between endogenous androgen levels and arterial stiffness in older men.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A London hospital-based, clinical research unit for the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five men (mean age+/-standard deviation=71.1+/-8.0).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) were measured in all subjects who had a stored serum sample drawn the same day as arterial stiffness measures were performed. Free testosterone index (FTI) was calculated ((total testosterone/SHBG) x 100 (%)). The measures of arterial stiffness used were pulse wave velocity (PWV) using the Complior system and systemic arterial compliance (SAC) using the area method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relationship between arterial stiffness and serum androgens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  : FTI showed a strong positive relationship with SAC (r=0.507, P<.001) and, correspondingly, an inverse relationship with carotid-femoral (C-F) and carotid-radial (C-R) PWV (r=-0.427 and -0.402, respectively, P<or=.002). With multiple regression, including age, blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, and waist/hip ratio, FTI remained a significant determinant of SAC and C-R PWV but not C-F PWV. In the subgroup of men without cardiovascular disease or vasoactive medication use (n=37), all three relationships remained significant. DHEAS was inversely related to C-F PWV only (r=-0.304, P=.041).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The known association between lower androgenicity and increased cardiovascular risk in men might be explained by altered vascular stiffness.
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatric Medicine, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom. fdockery@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dockery
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bulpitt
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donaldson
authors.forename: Sarojani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Chakravarthi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rajkumar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D003187:Compliance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate