Sex Hormone Imbalance and Rheumatoid Arthritis in American Men
Author Information
Author(s): Wen Pengfei, Wang Yidian, Yang Mingyi, Qiao Xincun, Yang Peng, Hu Shouye, Liu Lin, Yang Zhi
Primary Institution: Department of Joint Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, China
Hypothesis
What is the relationship between testosterone, SHBG levels, and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in men?
Conclusion
Low testosterone and high SHBG levels are associated with an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis in men.
Supporting Evidence
- Low testosterone levels (<300 ng/dL) were significantly associated with increased RA risk.
- Elevated SHBG levels (>57 nmol/L) were also associated with a higher risk of RA.
- Nonlinear relationships were observed between testosterone, SHBG, and RA risk.
- Age, race/ethnicity, hypertension, and poverty-income ratio modified the relationship between hormonal factors and RA.
Takeaway
This study found that men with low testosterone or high SHBG levels are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis.
Methodology
Cross-sectional analysis using NHANES data, measuring testosterone and SHBG levels, and assessing RA status through self-reported diagnosis.
Potential Biases
Potential reverse causation bias due to hormonal fluctuations in response to inflammation.
Limitations
The cross-sectional nature limits causality, and self-reported RA diagnoses may introduce misclassification bias.
Participant Demographics
Male participants from NHANES 2011-2016, mean age 46.70 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.65–3.21
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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