Introduction: The association of circulating testosterone levels with various parameters of cardiac function and wider pathophysiological framework of processes involved in the development and progression of heart failure (HF) syndrome have been well-described (1). However, the links between circulating sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and HF have been less extensively investigated; previous studies have suggested no association (2) or a low risk of HF with low circulation SHBG levels (3).

Patients and Methods: Data on baseline characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors and medications were collected for 196 male patients who were consecutively hospitalized for an acute episode of HF. In addition to baseline laboratory findings, serum concentrations of both SHBG and total testosterone were prospectively recorded. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was assessed by the biplane Simpson’s method and in accordance with the current guidelines.

Results: The study population consists of 12.8% smokers, 57.1% those with hypertension, 40.3% with diabetes mellitus, 26.5% with hypercholesterolemia and 20.4% of those with previous myocardial infarction. The mean age was 74.2±7.9 years, body mass index 27.5±5.1 kg/m², creatinine clearance 53.5±18.8 mL/min/1.73 m², LVEF 46.4±13.7%, whereas median SHBG was 46.8 nmol/L (interquartile range 32.3 – 62.7) and total testosterone was 10.2 nmol/L (interquartile range 6 – 14.1) In the univariate analysis, plotting the LVEF according to SHBG suggested a non-linear association well described by a cubic polynomial function (Figure 1). In the multivariate analysis, the association of LVEF with testosterone and SHBG was adjusted for all of the above clinical variables. In addition to younger age (p=0.004) and high creatinine clearance (p=0.02), both high circulating serum levels of total testosterone (p<0.0001) and low levels of SHBG (p=0.005) were identified as the independent predictors of LVEF.

Conclusions: The present study concurred evidence suggesting that SHBG is not just a glycoprotein that binds and carries the circulating testosterone, but that it may also be independently involved in biological processes affecting cardiac function in HF. Possible mechanisms Possible pathophysiological and subcellular mechanisms of SHBG in HF should be further explored.