Treatment-seeking behavior and cardiovascular morbidity among men with anabolic-androgenic steroid use: A cross-sectional study.
Scand J Med Sci Sports
; 34(1): e14554, 2024 Jan.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38268076
ABSTRACT
AIMS:
To determine associations between anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use-related morbidity including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and engagement to health services.METHODS:
In this cross-sectional study, 90 males with at least 12 months cumulative current or former use of AAS were included. The participants were divided into a treatment-seeking group (TSG) and a non-treatment seeking group (non-TSG) based on their responses to a self-report web questionnaire. All participants were screened for symptoms that could be indicative of CVD through a clinical interview, and examined with blood samples, blood pressure measurements and transthoracic echocardiography.RESULTS:
In the total sample (n = 90), mean age was 39 ± 11 years with cumulative AAS use of 12 ± 9 years. Among men in the TSG with current use there were higher prevalence of dyspnoea (50% vs 7%) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in conjunction with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (36 vs. 9%) and/or high blood pressure (55% vs. 19%) compared to men in the non-TSG. Among men with current AAS use and established LVEF <50% (n = 25) or LVH (n = 21), 44% (11) and 43% (9) respectively, had never engaged health services due to AAS-related adverse effects. Deviant liver- and kidney parameters were frequently observed in the total sample but without between-group differences.CONCLUSIONS:
Treatment-seeking behavior among current AAS users may be associated with increased levels of dyspnoea and established CVD. Despite objective signs of severe CVD among a substantial amount of study participants, it is of great concern that the majority had never sought treatment for AAS-related concerns.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Enfermedades Cardiovasculares
/
Esteroides Anabólicos Androgénicos
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article