1. ¹Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
2. ²Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

Correspondence: Professor S Basaria, Androgen Clinical Research Unit, Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, 670 Albany Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, USA. E-mail: shehzad.basaria@bmc.org

Received 2 April 2009; Revised 11 May 2009; Accepted 12 May 2009; Published online 18 June 2009.

Abstract

Male hypogonadism now has a new spectrum of complications. They are mainly cardiometabolic in nature. Low serum testosterone levels are a risk factor for diabetes, metabolic syndrome, inflammation and dyslipidemia. These metabolic and inflammatory complications are not without consequences. Recent studies have shown low serum testosterone levels to be an independent risk factor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. It is time to welcome low serum testosterone levels as a cardiovascular risk factor.