Low FT levels linked to frailty in men with advanced CLD

Low levels of free testosterone (FT) appear to contribute to frailty in male patients with advanced chronic liver disease (CLD), according to a study.

Some 197 male patients with advanced CLD awaiting liver transplantation were included in this prospective cohort study. The investigators classified the participants as having low or normal FT levels and assessed frailty using the Liver Frailty Index (LFI), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and gait speed test (GST). They also examined the associations with frailty measure using multivariable linear and logistic regression models.

Of the patients, 41 (20.8 percent) had low FT levels, which significantly correlated with a higher Child-Turcotte-Pugh class, higher MELD-Na scores, and a history of hepatic encephalopathy relative to those with normal FT levels (p<0.05). Patients with low FT also showed greater frailty, with notably worse performance on the LFI and shorter distances on the 6MWT (p<0.05). The GST difference was not statistically significant (p=0.106).

In multivariable regression analysis, only low FT levels demonstrated an independent and significant association with frailty (odds ratio, 2.4; p=0.043). Likewise, FT levels showed an independent relationship with LFI scores and 6MWT (p<0.05) in multivariable linear regression.

“Additional research may help identify therapeutic approaches to improve frailty in this patient group,” the investigators said.

Frailty is common among patients with advanced CLD, according to the investigators.