Context:Male ageing is associated with lower circulating testosterone (T) and increased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Whether physical activity (PA) interacts with hormones to modify CVD risk is unclear.Objective: We assessed whether PA and sex hormone concentrations were independently associated with measures of CVD risk.Participants: A total of 1649 men.Methods: Leisure, home, work and total PA were ascertained. At baseline, serum T, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and oestradiol (E2) were assayed. Men were stratified into high PA+high hormone (H/H); low PA+high hormone (L/H); high PA+low hormone (H/L); and low PA+low hormone (L/L).
Results: Mean age was 49.8 years at outset with 415 CVD events and 127 CVD deaths occurring during 20-year follow-up. Men with higher PA and higher T or DHT had lower odds of metabolic syndrome (eg leisure H/H vs L/L odds ratio [OR] 0.17 P<.001 for T, 0.26 P<.001 for DHT). Men with higher PA and E2 had lower risk of metabolic syndrome (eg leisure PA H/H vs L/L OR 0.51, P=.001). Men with higher leisure, work or total PA and higher DHT had the lowest risk of CVD death (eg leisure H/H hazard ratio [HR] 0.55 vs L/L, P=.033). Men with lower leisure, home or work PA and higher E2 were at greater risk of CVD death (eg leisure L/H HR 1.60 vs L/L, P=.039). Conclusions: Considering T, DHT and E2 in the context of PA better informs consideration of cardiovascular risk. A 2×2 factorial RCT assessing PA and androgens would illuminate the scope for preventing CVD in men. K E Y W O R D S cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, physical activity, testosterone 1 | INTRODUCTION As men grow older, circulating testosterone (T) concentrations decrease 1 while incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases. 2 Overweight older men have lower T levels compared to normal-weight men of the same age, 3 and reduced T levels are associated with poorer health outcomes including higher rates of metabolic syndrome and allcause mortality. 4,5 This has raised the question of whether reduced circulating T might be a modifiable risk factor for cardiometabolic ill health in ageing men, with increasing interest and controversy regarding the possible role of pharmacological T treatment as a means of preserving vascular health. 6 | 467 CHASLAND et AL.Testosterone is the predominant androgen in men's circulation and drives the regulation of sexual development, virilization, bone mineral density and body composition. 7 It is converted by 5α-reductase into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more potent androgen, and by aromatase into oestradiol (E2), a ligand for oestrogen receptors. 8 Lower T and DHT and higher E2 have been associated with features of the metabolic syndrome. 9 Furthermore, higher T and DHT are independent predictors for reduced incidence of stroke 10 with higher DHT also associated with reduced ischaemic heart disease mortality. 11However, one randomized controlled trial (RCT) was terminated early due to excess cardiovascular events in a group of older men with limited mobility being treated wi...