J Endocr Soc

Long-term testosterone therapy tied to greater CV risk in aging men

October 31, 2025

Study details: This retrospective cohort study analyzed health records from 136,491 men aged ≥51 years in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde region. Of these, 440 had long-term testosterone exposure (≥2 years between first and last prescription from 2012–2016). Participants were followed from 2017 to 2022 for incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including MI, stroke, heart failure, unstable angina, or CV death.

Results: Testosterone exposure was associated with a significantly increased risk of MACE (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.55; 95% CI, 1.19–2.01). Transdermal formulations showed a stronger association (HR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.129-2.476) than injectable forms (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 0.992-2.058).

Clinical impact: Long-term testosterone therapy may elevate cardiovascular risk in older men, particularly with transdermal formulations. Authors highlight the need for more longer-term data to fully ascertain the effect of testosterone therapy.

Source:

Connelly PJ, et al. (2025, October 7). J Endocr Soc. Association Between Long-Term Testosterone Exposure and Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Aging Men. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41163812/