Relationship between serum levels of testosterone and the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction: Testosterone level has been shown to be associated with respiratory function and loss of lean body mass in patients with COPD. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between testosterone level and functional respiratory parameters during COPD. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 95 male patients with stable COPD. Functional tests (plethysmography, 6MWT, blood gas) were performed in all patients and serum levels of testosterone, prolactin, FSH, LH and C-reactive protein were determined. Lean body mass was measured by bioelectric impedancemetry. Results: The average age was 63.78 ± 8.9 years. COPD was classified as stage 3 in 38% of cases and stage 4 in 11% of cases, group C in 10% of cases and group D in 18% of cases. The average testosterone was 20.87 ± 8.60 nmol/l. A significant positive correlation was found between FEV1 (p=0.005), FVC (p=0.005), FEV1/FVC ratio (p=0.001), lean mass index (p=0.021), and testosterone. However, testosterone was not correlated with the six-minute walk test or blood gas parameters. Similarly, it was not correlated with FSH, LH, prolactin and C-reactive protein. Conclusion: This study found that serum testosterone level was associated with lung function and lean mass during COPD. Further investigations are required to better evaluate the relationship between COPD and serum testosterone levels and the effect of androgen substitution in lung function.