Shalender Bhasin1, Susan S Ellenberg2, Thomas W Storer3, Shehzad Basaria3, Marco Pahor4, Alisa J Stephens-Shields2, Jane A Cauley5, Kristine E Ensrud6, John T Farrar7, David Cella8, Alvin M Matsumoto9, Glenn R Cunningham10, Ronald S Swerdloff11, Christina Wang11, Cora E Lewis12, Mark E Molitch13, Elizabeth Barrett-Connor14, Jill P Crandall15, Xiaoling Hou2, Peter Preston2, Denise Cifelli2, Peter J Snyder16, Thomas M Gill17. 1. Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: sbhasin@bwh.harvard.edu. 2. Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 3. Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. 4. Department of Aging & Geriatric Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. 5. Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. 6. Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA. 7. Center for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 8. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. 9. Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, and Division of Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA. 10. Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor St Luke's Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA. 11. Division of Endocrinology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Torrance, CA, USA. 12. Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA. 13. Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Molecular Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. 14. Department of Internal Medicine and Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA USA. 15. Divisions of Endocrinology and Geriatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA. 16. Division of Endocrinology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 17. Section of Geriatric Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Physical Function Trial (PFT) was one of seven Testosterone Trials (TTrials), the aim of which was to assess the effect of testosterone on mobility, self-reported physical function, falls, and patient global impression-of-change (PGIC) in older men with low testosterone concentrations, self-reported mobility limitation, and walking speed of less than 1·2 m/s. Using data from the PFT and the overall TTrials study population, we also aimed to identify whether the effect of testosterone on mobility differed according to baseline walking speed, mobility limitation, or other participant-level factors. METHODS: The TTrials included 790 men aged 65 years or older and with an average of two total testosterone concentrations below 275 ng/dL (9·5 nmol/L), of whom 390 had mobility limitation and a walking speed below 1·2 m/s and were enrolled in the PFT. Participants were assigned (by minimisation method) to 1% testosterone gel or placebo gel daily for 12 months, with participants and study staff masked to intervention allocation. The primary outcome of the PFT was an increase in 6 min walk test (6MWT) distance of 50 m or more. Here we report data for absolute change in 6MWT distance and physical component of Short Form-36 (PF10), and for PGIC and falls. Data are reported for men enrolled in the PFT and those who were not, and for all men in TTrials; data are also reported according to baseline walking speed and mobility limitation. Analyses were done in a modified intention-to-treat population in all patients who were allocated to treatment, had a baseline assessment, and at least one post-intervention assessment. The TTrials are registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00799617. FINDINGS: The TTrials took place between April 28, 2011 and June 16, 2014. Of 790 TTrials participants, 395 were allocated totestosterone and 395 to placebo; of the 390 participants enrolled in the PFT, 193 were allocated totestosterone and 197 to placebo. As reported previously, 6MWT distance improved significantly more in the testosterone than in the placebo group among all men in the TTrials, but not in those who were enrolled in the PFT; among TTrials participants not enrolled in the PFT, 6MWT distance improved with a treatment effect of 8·9 m (95% CI 2·2-15·6; p=0·010). As reported previously, PF10 improved more in the testosterone group than in the placebo group in all men in TTrials and in men enrolled in the PFT; among those not enrolled in the PFT, PF10 improved with an effect size of 4·0 (1·5-6·5; p=0·0019). Testosterone-treated men with baseline walking speed of 1·2 m/s or higher had significantly greater improvements in 6MWT distance (treatment effect 14·2 m, 6·5-21·9; p=0·0004) and PF10 (4·9, 2·2-7·7; p=0·0005) than placebo-treated men. Testosterone-treated men reporting mobility limitation showed significantly more improvement in 6MWT distance (7·6 m, 1·0-14·1; p=0·0237) and PF10 (3·6, 1·3-5·9; p=0·0018) than placebo-treated men. Men in the testosterone group were more likely to perceive improvement in their walking ability (PGIC) than men in the placebo group, both for men enrolled in the PFT (effect size 2·21, 1·35-3·63; p=0·0018) and those not enrolled in the PFT (3·01, 1·61-5·63; p=0·0006). Changes in 6MWT distance were significantly associated with changes in testosterone, free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and haemoglobin concentrations. Fall frequency during the intervention period was identical in the two treatment groups of the TTrials (103 [27%] of 380 analysed in both groups had at least one fall). INTERPRETATION:Testosterone therapy consistently improved self-reported walking ability, modestly improved 6MWT distance (across all TTtrials participants), but did not affect falls. The effect of testosterone on mobility measures were related to baseline gait speed and self-reported mobility limitation, and changes in testosterone and haemoglobin concentrations. FUNDING: US National Institute on Aging and AbbVie.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: The Physical Function Trial (PFT) was one of seven Testosterone Trials (TTrials), the aim of which was to assess the effect of testosterone on mobility, self-reported physical function, falls, and patient global impression-of-change (PGIC) in older men with low testosterone concentrations, self-reported mobility limitation, and walking speed of less than 1·2 m/s. Using data from the PFT and the overall TTrials study population, we also aimed to identify whether the effect of testosterone on mobility differed according to baseline walking speed, mobility limitation, or other participant-level factors. METHODS: The TTrials included 790 men aged 65 years or older and with an average of two total testosterone concentrations below 275 ng/dL (9·5 nmol/L), of whom 390 had mobility limitation and a walking speed below 1·2 m/s and were enrolled in the PFT. Participants were assigned (by minimisation method) to 1% testosterone gel or placebo gel daily for 12 months, with participants and study staff masked to intervention allocation. The primary outcome of the PFT was an increase in 6 min walk test (6MWT) distance of 50 m or more. Here we report data for absolute change in 6MWT distance and physical component of Short Form-36 (PF10), and for PGIC and falls. Data are reported for men enrolled in the PFT and those who were not, and for all men in TTrials; data are also reported according to baseline walking speed and mobility limitation. Analyses were done in a modified intention-to-treat population in all patients who were allocated to treatment, had a baseline assessment, and at least one post-intervention assessment. The TTrials are registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00799617. FINDINGS: The TTrials took place between April 28, 2011 and June 16, 2014. Of 790 TTrials participants, 395 were allocated to testosterone and 395 to placebo; of the 390 participants enrolled in the PFT, 193 were allocated to testosterone and 197 to placebo. As reported previously, 6MWT distance improved significantly more in the testosterone than in the placebo group among all men in the TTrials, but not in those who were enrolled in the PFT; among TTrials participants not enrolled in the PFT, 6MWT distance improved with a treatment effect of 8·9 m (95% CI 2·2-15·6; p=0·010). As reported previously, PF10 improved more in the testosterone group than in the placebo group in all men in TTrials and in men enrolled in the PFT; among those not enrolled in the PFT, PF10 improved with an effect size of 4·0 (1·5-6·5; p=0·0019). Testosterone-treated men with baseline walking speed of 1·2 m/s or higher had significantly greater improvements in 6MWT distance (treatment effect 14·2 m, 6·5-21·9; p=0·0004) and PF10 (4·9, 2·2-7·7; p=0·0005) than placebo-treated men. Testosterone-treated men reporting mobility limitation showed significantly more improvement in 6MWT distance (7·6 m, 1·0-14·1; p=0·0237) and PF10 (3·6, 1·3-5·9; p=0·0018) than placebo-treated men. Men in the testosterone group were more likely to perceive improvement in their walking ability (PGIC) than men in the placebo group, both for men enrolled in the PFT (effect size 2·21, 1·35-3·63; p=0·0018) and those not enrolled in the PFT (3·01, 1·61-5·63; p=0·0006). Changes in 6MWT distance were significantly associated with changes in testosterone, free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and haemoglobin concentrations. Fall frequency during the intervention period was identical in the two treatment groups of the TTrials (103 [27%] of 380 analysed in both groups had at least one fall). INTERPRETATION:Testosterone therapy consistently improved self-reported walking ability, modestly improved 6MWT distance (across all TTtrials participants), but did not affect falls. The effect of testosterone on mobility measures were related to baseline gait speed and self-reported mobility limitation, and changes in testosterone and haemoglobin concentrations. FUNDING: US National Institute on Aging and AbbVie.
Authors: Thomas W Storer; Lynne Magliano; Linda Woodhouse; Martin L Lee; Connie Dzekov; Jeanne Dzekov; Richard Casaburi; Shalender Bhasin Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2003-04 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Matteo Cesari; Stephen B Kritchevsky; Brenda W H J Penninx; Barbara J Nicklas; Eleanor M Simonsick; Anne B Newman; Frances A Tylavsky; Jennifer S Brach; Suzanne Satterfield; Douglas C Bauer; Marjolein Visser; Susan M Rubin; Tamara B Harris; Marco Pahor Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2005-10 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Anne M Kenny; Sandra Bellantonio; Cynthia A Gruman; Ruben D Acosta; Karen M Prestwood Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2002-05 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Marc R Blackman; John D Sorkin; Thomas Münzer; Michele F Bellantoni; Jan Busby-Whitehead; Thomas E Stevens; Jocelyn Jayme; Kieran G O'Connor; Colleen Christmas; Jordan D Tobin; Kerry J Stewart; Ernest Cottrell; Carol St Clair; Katharine M Pabst; S Mitchell Harman Journal: JAMA Date: 2002-11-13 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Marielle H Emmelot-Vonk; Harald J J Verhaar; Hamid R Nakhai Pour; André Aleman; Tycho M T W Lock; J L H Ruud Bosch; Diederick E Grobbee; Yvonne T van der Schouw Journal: JAMA Date: 2008-01-02 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Shehzad Basaria; S Mitchell Harman; Thomas G Travison; Howard Hodis; Panayiotis Tsitouras; Matthew Budoff; Karol M Pencina; Joseph Vita; Connie Dzekov; Norman A Mazer; Andrea D Coviello; Philip E Knapp; Kathleen Hally; Emma Pinjic; Mingzhu Yan; Thomas W Storer; Shalender Bhasin Journal: JAMA Date: 2015-08-11 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Andrea Salonia; Giulia Rastrelli; Geoffrey Hackett; Stephanie B Seminara; Ilpo T Huhtaniemi; Rodolfo A Rey; Wayne J G Hellstrom; Mark R Palmert; Giovanni Corona; Gert R Dohle; Mohit Khera; Yee-Ming Chan; Mario Maggi Journal: Nat Rev Dis Primers Date: 2019-05-30 Impact factor: 52.329
Authors: Alisa J Stephens-Shields; John T Farrar; Susan S Ellenberg; Thomas W Storer; Thomas M Gill; Shehzad Basaria; Marco Pahor; Jane A Cauley; Kristine E Ensrud; Peter Preston; David Cella; Peter J Snyder; Shalender Bhasin Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2020-11-18 Impact factor: 5.562