The impact of testosterone replacement therapy on muscle strength and function among the elderly: meta-analysis and systematic review / 中华健康管理学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To the effects of testosterone replacement therapy on muscle strength and function among the elderly (≥65 years old).Methods:We searched English and Chinese databases of PubMed, SinoMed, etc, upto July 4, 2020. All retrieved literatures were reviewed according to inclusion and exclusion criteria in accordance with PICOS principles. The Cochrane risk bias assessment tool was used for quality evaluation. Two researchers extracted data and evaluated literature quality independently. The outcomes included muscle strength (assessed by handgrip strength, leg extension strength, etc) and function (assessed by walking speed according to 6-minute walking test, 6MWT). Review Manager 5.3 software was used for statistical analysis. The fixed or random effects model was used to merge data of upper-and lower-extremity strength or 6MWT to produce forest plot and funnel plot. The subgroup analyses were conducted based on the characteristics of included studies. The sensitivity analyses were conducted for excluding literatures with small sample size, etc.Results:A total of 15 relatively high quality researches (14 English literatures and 1 Chinese literature) were included. The results of this meta analyses showed TRT could improve upper-extremity (0.21[0.11, 0.32]) and lower-extremity (0.34[0.12, 0.55]) muscle strength while not physical function (17.62[-13.06, 48.31]) among the elderly men. Subgroup analyses showed that region, source of participants, administration route and intervention period, while not the baseline testosterone level had effect on the pooled effect size. Funnel plot suggested a certain degree of publication bias. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the meta analyses were robust.Conclusion:TRT can improve muscle strength while not physical function among elderly men.