Testosterone improves rehabilitation outcomes in ill older men.
2000
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether testosterone supplementation improves rehabilitation outcomes in ill older men.
DESIGN: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.
SETTING: A Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) unit based at a university- affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen men aged 65 to 90 years admitted to the GEM for rehabilitation.
INTERVENTION: Subjects were randomized to receive weekly intramuscular injections with testosterone enanthate 100 mg or placebo.
MEASUREMENTS: Task-specific performance using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and grip strength was measured at the onset of the study and at the time of discharge from the GEM.
RESULTS: At baseline, FIM scores were similar between the placebo and the testosterone group (73.7 vs 70.7, P = .637), as was grip strength (49.7 vs 55.3 pounds, P = .555). At discharge from the GEM, testosterone-treated patients had improved FIM scores compared with baseline (93.6 vs 70.7; P = .012) and grip strength (68.7 vs 55.3 pounds; P = .033). In the placebo group there was no significant improvement of FIM scores compared with baseline (78.0 versus 73.7; P = .686) or of grip strength (48.9 vs 49.7 pounds; P = .686).
CONCLUSIONS: Testosterone supplementation may improve rehabilitation outcomes in ill older men. J Am Geriatr Soc 48: 550–553, 2000.
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