Sex Hormone Levels Linked to Sudden Cardiac Arrest Risk

Testosterone and estradiol levels were measured from blood samples drawn at the time of the SCA event in cases and during a routine visit in controls.

Among SCA cases the median testosterone levels were significantly lower in males at 4.4 ng/mL compared to controls who did not have sudden cardiac arrest at 5.4 ng/mL. Median estradiol levels were higher in male SCA patients at 68 pg/mL compared to the controls at 52 pg/mL and female SCA cases median was 54 pg/mL compared to 36 pg/mL. Higher testosterone levels were associated with lower SCA risk only in males and higher estradiol levels were associated with higher SCA risk in both males and females.

Sumeet Chugh, MD, director of the Heart Rhythm Center in the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, said, “This is the first time it has been reported that there is an association between sex hormone levels and sudden cardiac arrest. While these findings need to be confirmed by other studies, they suggest that higher testosterone levels in men may offer protection from sudden cardiac arrest and lower levels of estrogen may protect both men and women.” The study was published on August 23, 2014, in the journal Heart Rhythm.

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