SUMMARYLow total testosterone (TT) and sexual symptoms are common among men with coronary artery disease, however its impact on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) is still debatable. We investigated whether low TT and coexisting sexual symptoms in men with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) can be used to predict the incidence of MACE. In the prospective study 120 consecutive men (mean age 58 AE 9 years; diabetes 27%; current smokers 58%; left ventricular ejection fraction 50 AE 10%) with ACS were included. The group of men with the presence of three sexual symptoms (decreased frequency of morning erections, a lack of sexual thoughts and erectile dysfunction) and with TT serum concentration <3.2 ng/mL was distinguished. All of the patients had their prognosis assessed according to the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE Score 2.0). Primary composite endpoint -MACE (recurrent ischaemia, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke and death) and secondary endpoint -in stent restenosis (ISR) were registered during the 18.3 month follow-up period. The mean TT level in the entire group was 3.7 AE 0.5 ng/mL. Low TT was diagnosed in 63 (52.5%) men. Both low TT and sexual symptoms were diagnosed in 57 (47%) participants. During the follow-up, 29 (24.2%) participants experienced MACE, 20 (16.6%) men ISR. In the Cox proportional hazards regression, high risk of death on the GRACE score (HR 3.16; 95% CI: 1.5-6.6; p = 0.002), the presence of low TT and sexual symptoms (HR 2.75; 95% CI: 1.26-6.04; p = 0.02) independently predicted an incidence of a MACE (p = 0.006). For the secondary endpoint only low TT and sexual symptoms (HR 2.68; 95% CI: 1.03-6.94; p = 0.034) were independent covariates which predicted IRS. Low TT which coexists with sexual symptoms in males with ACS can be used to predict MACE, especially IRS independently of classic cardiovascular risk factors.
Introduction: Patients with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) have increased cardiovascular risk, but the vascular and cardiac function during longitudinal corticoids replacement therapy is not known thoroughly. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study of 19 Caucasian adults with CAH (age 23.7 ± 3.8 years; twelve males) compared to 20 healthy volunteers matched for origin, sex, age, and body mass index (BMI). All of the participants were assessed for flow mediated dilatation of the brachial artery (FMD), intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (cIMT) and common femoral artery (fIMT), standard echocardiography, and global longitudinal left ventricular function using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (LSTE). Results: The patients with CAH, compared with controls, had decreased FMD (9.4 ± 3.9 vs. 19.8 ± 5.2; p < 0.01), and the difference was still significant after correction for potential confounders. cIMT and fIMT were higher in the CAH group at baseline (for cIMT 0.47 ± 0.4 mm vs. 0.40 ± 0.03 mm; p < 0.01, for fIMT 0.47 ± 0.05 mm vs. 0.41 ± 0.04 mm; p < 0.01) but not after correction for potential confounders. The CAH subjects, compared with controls, had normal or similar left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and LV mass index. The mean absolute value of LSTE differed in the CAH patients compared with controls (-20.5% ± 1.2 vs.-22.5% ± 1.7; p < 0.01), but it was still within the normal range. Conclusions: Young adults with CAH and glucocorticoid long-lasting treatment had impaired FMD, an insignificant increase of IMT, and subclinical changes in LV diastolic function in echocardiography.
Low ranges of CAC are frequently detectable in CSX patients, and the results are age-related and independent of impaired early indexes of functional and structural vascular remodeling.
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