To investigate the correlation of serum testosterone level with severity and characteristics of coronary plaque, stent implantation rate and major cardiovascular adverse events(MACE)in elderly male patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).

In this retrospective study, a total of 63 elderly male patients of the Third People's Hospital of Hangzhou with coronary angiography(CAG)-confirmed CHD and to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)were selected.According to serum testosterone level, they were divided into the low testosterone(low T)group and the normal testosterone(normal T)group.Optical coherence tomography(OCT)was performed in both groups to define the characteristics of coronary artery lesions and guide stent implantation.The correlation of serum testosterone level with blood lipids, glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c), degree of coronary artery lesions, plaque characteristics, stent implantation and MACE in two groups were analyzed.The in-stent restenosis rate after stent implantation and the variation of minimum lumen diameter of stent were determined during 12 months follow up in both groups.

Total cholesterol(TC), low-density lipoprotein(LDL-C)and HbA1c were higher in the low T group than in the normal T group(t=7.808、-5.871、6.611, all P<0.05). When taking testosterone as the independent variable, and TC, triglycerides(TG), LDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)and HbA1c as the dependent variables, linear regression analysis showed that TC, LDL-C and HbA1c were negatively correlated with testosterone level(β=-0.733, -0.716, -0.581, P<0.05). More than 2 vascular lesions were more common in low testosterone group versus the control group(χ²=8.66, P<0.05). Mixed plaques, lipid plaques, and calcified plaques were more commonly found in low testosterone group versus the control group(χ²=7.87, P<0.05). Unstable plaques were more common in the low T group(χ²=6.14, P<0.05). The low T group vs the normal T group, coronary stent implantation rate were 93.3%(28/30 cases)vs.66.7%(22/33 cases), the difference was statistically significant(χ²=6.82, P<0.05). When testosterone, TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, HbA1c were taken as the independent variables, and the stent implantation rate was the dependent variable, logistic regression analysis results showed that only testosterone, TC and HbA1c were independently correlated with stent implantation rate(OR=0.971、425.523、0.004, P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in minimum stent lumen diameters between the two groups under OCT-guided coronary stent implantation(t=-1.064, P>0.05). During 12 months follow up, the MACE0 incidence was 26.7%(8/30 cases, in low T group)than 6.1%(2/33 cases, in normal T group), with statistically significant difference(χ²=5.00, P<0.05). When taking testosterone, TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C and HbA1c as the independent variables, and MACE as the dependent variable, logistic regression analysis results showed that only testosterone and LDL-C were independently correlated with MACE(OR=0.968, 0.008, P<0.05).

Serum testosterone level is negatively correlated with TC, LDL-C and HbA1c, and may be correlated with the degree of coronary artery lesions, plaque properties, MACE and stent implantation rate of CHD patients.Serum testosterone can be used to evaluate the characteristics and conditions of CHD, and help to predict the prognosis of CHD.The OCT is a good guide tool for coronary stent implantation.

Testosterone; Coronary angiography; Optical coherence tomography; Coronary disease