SAT-500 Effect of Testosterone Therapy on Asthma Exacerbations

Abstract Y. Nayak: None. E. Deol: None. J. Liebich: None. K. Yu: None. Y. Ayoub: None. M. Amini: None. A. Ghimire: None. S. Portillo-Canales: None. P. Patel: None. G. Kamel: None. S. Dhindsa: None. Background: A gender-related disparity exists in asthma morbidity and mortality. Asthma in women tends to be more common and severe than men. Epidemiological studies have suggested that serum testosterone (T) concentrations are inversely related to the asthma prevalence as well as exacerbations in men. It is not known if T therapy (TTh) has an effect of asthma exacerbations. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review study conducted in the electronic health records of a tertiary hospital database. We included men with asthma who were between 18-89 years of age, had at least one interaction with the health system in the last 7 years, and were on TTh. The primary endpoint of the study was to compare incidence of asthma exacerbations before and after the use of TTh. Asthma exacerbation was defined as hospitalization due to asthma or usage of oral prednisone if exacerbation was treated in the outpatient setting. Averages are presented as mean ± SD. Comparisons among groups were made by t-test, ANOVA, or non-parametric tests as appropriate. Results: Data were available on 200 men (mean age 59±12 years, BMI 34±7 kg/m2). Ninety % were White, 9% were Black and 1% were American Indian. The total duration of follow up was 9.2±4.8 years. Asthma was classified as intermittent, mild, moderate, and severe in 55%, 29%, 11% and 5% of patients respectively. 51% were on inhaled steroids continuously. Six % were current smokers and 37% had been former smokers. Emphysema or chronic bronchitis were present in 26% of patients. The mean follow-up before starting TTh was 5.2±4.5 years. Patients took TTh for 6.2±4.7 years. 21% of patients used T injections, 56% were on transdermal T, while the rest had used both forms at different times. Less than 1% were on pellets or oral TTh. Mean serum T during TTh was 452±221 ng/dL. 89% of patients had documentation of normal serum T levels post TTh. The annualized incidence of asthma exacerbations (number of exacerbations/duration of follow up in years) before TTh and on TTh was similar (0.16±0.64 versus 0.10±0.28 per year respectively, p=0.21). 44% of patients stopped TTh during the study. Mean follow up after stopping TTh was 3.0±2.3 years. The rate of asthma exacerbations following TTh (0.11±0.24 per year) was similar to the rate during TTh (p=0.85). 64% of patients did not have any exacerbation during the study period. After restricting the analysis to only those with at least one exacerbation (N=72), the rates of exacerbations were not different before, during and after TTh (0.42±0.98, 0.26±0.42 and 0.21±0.31 respectively, p=0.62). Conclusion: Our study shows that initiation of TTh in men with asthma is unlikely to affect the frequency of asthma exacerbations. These data are informative since hypogonadism and asthma are commonly encountered comorbidities in the clinic. Saturday, June 1, 2024