A brief description of the principal studies describing factors associated with all-cause mortality in this review

Factors associated with mortalityEvidenceMain findingReference
Serum TTHolmboe et al. (MONICA10 study)Lower (< 10th percentile) serum TT was associated with higher mortality[9]
Pye et al. (EMAS)Serum TT < 8 nmol/L & ≥ 3 symptoms was associated with higher mortality[6]
Araujo et al. (systematic review/meta-analysis)Lowest tertile of serum TT was associated with higher mortality[10]
Muraleedharan et al.Serum TT < 10.4 nmol/L in men with T2DM demonstrated higher mortality[11]
Hackett et al. (BLAST screened cohort)Serum ≤ 12.0 nmol/L or FT ≤ 0.25 nmol/L in men with T2DM associated with higher mortality[12, 13]
TThVigen et al.Increased mortality, myocardial infarction and strokes in men (and 100 women) on TTh[14]
Finkle et al.Mortality was higher 3 months post-TTh compared to 12 months pre-TTh[15]
Basaria et al. (TOM trial)Twenty-three men on TTh developed CVD related adverse events compared to 5 men on placebo[16]
Shores et al.TTh in men with serum TT ≤ 8.7 nmol/L was associated with lower mortality[20]
Muraleedharan et al.TTh in men with serum TT ≤ 8.7 nmol/L was associated with lower mortality[11]
Hackett et al. (BLAST screened cohort)TTh in men with serum ≤ 12.0 nmol/L or FT ≤ 0.25 nmol/L and T2DM was associated with lower mortality[12]
Haider et al.TTh in men with serum ≤ 12.0 nmol/L and T2DM was associated with lower mortality[21]
Hudson et al. (systematic review/meta-analysis)TTh not associated with change in mortality risk compared to placebo over a mean follow-up of 9.5 months[22]
PDE5 inhibitorsHackett et al. (BLAST screened cohort)PDE5 inhibitor treatment in men with T2DM was associated with lower mortality[12, 13]
Andersson et al.PDE5 inhibitors in men with ED post first myocardial infarction was associated with lower mortality[18]
Anderson et al.PDE5 inhibitor use was associated with lower mortality[19]
Kloner et al.PDE5 inhibitor use in men with T2DM was associated with lower mortality[53]
SHBGTint et al.Higher SHBG levels were associated with increased mortality[34]
Ramachandran et al. (BLAST screened cohort)Higher SHBG levels were associated with increased mortality[35]
HCTGagnon et al.High HCT was associated with increased mortality[40]
Boffetta et al.Possible ‘U’ shaped relationship between HCT and mortality in men and women[41]
Locatelli et al.Increase in HCT following erythropoietin therapy was associated with lower mortality[42]
Strange et al.Lower mortality was seen in men with HCT between 50–52% following TTh compared to me with HCT ≤ 49%[45]
Ory et al.HCT > 52% was associated with increased CVD and no significant increase in mortality[46]
EDDong et al. (meta-analysis)ED was associated with CVD and all-cause mortality[52]
CAG repeatsHeald et al. (EMAS)A ‘U’ shaped association between CAG repeat numbers and mortality in men with serum TT < 14.2nmol/L[89]

BLAST: Burntwood Lichfield Atherstone Sutton Coldfield Tamworth; CVD: cardiovascular disease; ED: erectile dysfunction; EMAS: European Male Ageing Study; FT: free testosterone; HCT: haematocrit; PDE5: phosphodiesterase type 5; SHBG: sex hormone binding globulin; T2DM: type 2 diabetes; TTh: testosterone therapy