Testosterone Replacement Therapy and Rehospitalization in Older Men with Testosterone Deficiency in a Post-Acute Care Setting

Objective To examine whether receipt of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) was associated with reduced 30-day rehospitalization following Post-Acute-Care (PAC) among older men with testosterone deficiency. Design, Patients and Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a 5% national sample of Medicare beneficiaries. We identified 1,290 nonsurgical inpatient PAC discharges between January 1, 2007 and October 31, 2014 for male patients, aged ≥66 years, with a prior diagnosis of testosterone deficiency. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for 30-day PAC rehospitalization related to receipt of TRT. Results In older men with testosterone deficiency, receipt of TRT was not associated with rehospitalization (odds ratio [OR]=0.87, 95% CI, 0.59-1.29) in the 30 days following PAC discharge. These findings persisted after adjustment for quintile of propensity scores (OR=0.90, 95%CI=0.62-1.30) Conclusion TRT was not associated with reduced rehospitalization following PAC discharge in older men with testosterone deficiency. Further research in this population should examine the effects of TRT on functional recovery and community independence. Corresponding author: Rasha Al-Lami, M.D., Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston TX 77555 (raallami@utmb.edu, 4092563310). Disclosure statement: This study was supported by grants: UL1TR000071, R24HS022134, P30AG024832, and R01DA039192. Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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