Summary
To prepare its 2017 guideline on hormone treatment for trans people, the Endocrine Society (a body of hormone doctors) paid Mayo Clinic reviewers to gather all studies on cross-sex hormones and heart health. They found 29 studies. Almost all simply observed patients, and many had no comparison group. Testosterone in trans men worsened cholesterol, raising 'bad' cholesterol and blood fats and lowering 'good' cholesterol. Estrogen in trans women raised blood fats. Heart attacks, strokes, blood clots and deaths were too rarely reported to measure risk, though they were more common in trans women. The reviewers judged the evidence low quality. The review mainly shows how little was known about heart safety when the guideline was written. Larger studies published since (for example Getahun 2018 and Nota 2019) are not included.
Key findings
- Die Übersicht wurde von der Endocrine Society bezahlt, um ihre Leitlinie von 2017 zur Behandlung von Geschlechtsdysphorie (Leidensdruck wegen des eigenen Geschlechts) mit Hormonen zu stützen.
- Sie schloss 29 Studien mit 3.231 trans Frauen und 1.500 trans Männern ein; nur 1 teilte die Behandlung zufällig zu, 17 verglichen nur vorher und nachher, und nur 4 hatten eine Vergleichsgruppe.
- Bei trans Männern hing Testosteron nach 2 oder mehr Jahren mit höheren Blutfetten (Triglyceride, plus 21,4 mg/dL), höherem „schlechtem“ Cholesterin (plus 17,8 mg/dL) und niedrigerem „gutem“ Cholesterin (minus bis zu 8,5 mg/dL) zusammen.
- Bei trans Frauen waren die Blutfette nach 2 oder mehr Jahren höher (plus 31,9 mg/dL), ohne klare Veränderung des Cholesterins.
- Bei trans Frauen berichteten die Studien 56 Blutgerinnsel bei 1.767 Personen, 14 Herzinfarkte bei 1.073, 8 Schlaganfälle bei 859 und 139 Todesfälle bei 1.486, darunter 23 herzbedingte Todesfälle und 26 Suizide.
- Bei trans Männern berichteten die Studien nur 1 Blutgerinnsel bei 771, 1 Herzinfarkt bei 478, keine Schlaganfälle bei 340 und 13 Todesfälle bei 651.
- Die Gutachter stuften die Gesamtevidenz als niedrige Qualität ein, wahrscheinlich durch selektive Berichterstattung beeinflusst, mit wenig Daten zu den Gesundheitsereignissen, die Patienten am wichtigsten sind.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Transgender individuals receive cross-sex hormonal therapy to induce desired secondary sexual characteristics despite limited data regarding its effects on cardiovascular health. METHODS: A comprehensive search of several databases up to 7 April 2015 was conducted for studies evaluating the effect of sex steroid use on lipids, myocardial infarction, stroke, venous thromboembolism (VTE), and mortality in transgender individuals. Pairs of reviewers selected and appraised the studies. A random-effects model was used to pool weighted mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: We found 29 eligible studies with moderate risk of bias. In female-to-male (FTM) individuals, sex steroid therapy was associated with statistically significant increases in serum triglyceride (TG) levels at 3 to 6 months and at ≥24 months (21.4 mg/dL; 95% CI: 0.14 to 42.6) and in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels at 12 months and ≥24 months (17.8 mg/dL; 95% CI: 3.5 to 32.1). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels decreased significantly across all follow-up periods (highest at ≥24 months, -8.5 mg/dL; 95% CI: -13.0 to -3.9). In male-to-female (MTF) individuals, serum TG levels were significantly higher at ≥24 months (31.9 mg/dL; 95% CI: 3.9 to 59.9) without any changes in other parameters. Few myocardial infarction, stroke, VTE, and death events were reported (more frequently in MTF individuals). CONCLUSIONS: Low-quality evidence suggests that sex steroid therapy may increase LDL-C and TG levels and decrease HDL-C level in FTM individuals, whereas oral estrogens may increase TG levels in MTF individuals. Data about important patient outcomes remain sparse.
Conclusion
Low-quality evidence suggests that sex steroid therapy may increase LDL-C and TG levels and decrease HDL-C level in FTM individuals, whereas oral estrogens may increase TG levels in MTF individuals. Data about important patient outcomes remain sparse.