Testosterone supplementation and monitoring practices in HIV-infected men in a large multicenter US cohort: Results from CNICS

2^nd International Conference on HIV/AIDS, STDs, & STIs

October 27-29, 2014 Embassy Suites Las Vegas, USA

Adam B Murphy, Ramona Bhatia and Chad Achenbach

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J AIDS Clin Res

Abstract :

Background: Testosterone supplementation in US men is increasing, often without proper indications and monitoring. HIV predisposes to hypogonadism, yet testosterone supplementation practices in HIV-infected (HIV+) men are largely unknown. Methods: We conducted a cohort study of adult HIV+ men engaged in care at 7 sites within the Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS) from 1996-2011, excluding men on testosterone at cohort entry. We used total and free testosterone data. We calculated testosterone supplementation incidence as number of events per follow-up time (person-years, py) from entry to initial supplementation, loss to follow-up, or death. We assessed factors associated with testosterone supplementation using chi-square and Cox regression. Results: We studied 14,454 men with 75,173 py of follow-up. Mean age was 38y (±9.4), 50% were White, 69% were men who have sex with men (MSM), and 4% ever had AIDS wasting. 70% were on antiretroviral therapy (ART), with mean viral load of 4392 copies/ml and nadir CD4+ T-lymphocyte cell count (CD4) of 286 cells/μl at entry. 1482 (10%) initiated testosterone supplementation at mean age of 45y (±9.0) and rate of 20/1,000 py. In bi variable comparisons, testosterone supplementation was significantly associated with age ≥50y, MSM, AIDS wasting, nadir CD4<200 cells/μl, ART, and White race (all p<0.01). In multivariable analyses, testosterone supplementation was independently associated with age (per decade; HR 1.29, 95% CL1.21-1.38; p<0.01), AIDS wasting (HR 2.13, 95% CL 1.69-2.67; p<0.01), nadir CD4 (per 100 cells/μl; HR 0.96, 95% CL 0.94-0.99; p<0.01), ART (HR 1.21, 95% CL 1.05-1.40; p<0.01), and White race (HR 1.69, 95% CL 1.48-1.92; p<0.01). Presupplementation serum testosterone level was measured in 67% (992/1482), and there was deficiency (total testosterone ≤300 ng/dl) in 36% (360/992). Testosterone levels were measured within 6 months of initiating supplementation in 25% (377/1482). Of men over 40 y who initiated testosterone, 33% had a pre-supplementation prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, and 12% had a PSA test 6 months after initiation. Conclusions: In a large, geographically diverse cohort of HIV+ men, we observed a higher testosterone supplementation rate than that reported in a 2011 general US male population (7.57/1,000py). Pre-supplementation testosterone deficiency and post-supplementation monitoring occurred in only 36% and 25%, respectively, suggesting providers do not commonly follow Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guidelines in HIV+ men.

Biography :

Adam B Murphy is an assistant professor in the Department of Urology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is an academic urologist with a clinical and research focus on health disparities in prostate cancer. He also investigates the effect of HIV on prostate cancer risk and treatment disparities.