Very Low T and Coronavirus

[dac500]

Does having castrate level T makes elderly men more vulnerable to Coronavirus complications?

[Hidden]

Yes.

[Wassersug in reply to Hidden]

Fran2020,

Do you know of data to support that specific to COVID19? If so, it has to be a very recent reference.

That said, you are probably right based on the elevated risk of pneumonia in the ADT population (as mentioned in the ADT book and in the blog on the ADT website. A background paper on this is:

Androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer and the risk of hospitalisation for community-acquired pneumonia.

Hicks BM, et al. Thorax 2017.

That paper concludes with "The use of ADT is associated with an increased risk of hospitalisation for community-acquired pneumonia in men with prostate cancer...."

Richard Wassersug

LIFEonADT.com

[Hidden in reply to Wassersug]

You answered your own question.

[Hidden]

No, not at all; however, having cancer does. Any co-morbidity puts a person at risk; regardless of age, but especially aged people. Low testosterone is not in this category.

GD

[GP24]

Cited from the article mentioned by Wassersug:

"There is also some evidence that ADT may have effects both on immune function and lung tissue, thus raising the possibility that its use may increase the risk of infections, such as pneumonia.

Androgens have been shown to play an important role on the immune system. Indeed, androgen receptors are expressed on a number of immunological cells, and androgens have been reported to increase neutrophil production"

So if the immune system is restrained by ADT you are more vulnerable to Coronavirus complications.

[immunity1 in reply to GP24]

This statement by Wassersug is very general. In my instance my neutrophil levels increased, rather than decreased, following 3 years or so of ADT. In addition, I know in sheep at least, and probably other animals, castrated males are MORE resistant to certain common pathogens such as internal parasites.

Clearly there can be factors relating to PC per se that could increase the likelihood of pneumonia.

=Rob

[Hidden]

I wonder if the increased risk of community-acquired pneumonia has to do with the cancer itself and its effects on the lungs, not ADT.

I'm curious to know what the mechanism of action is between ADT and pneumonia. It may be a case of correlation, not causation.

[timotur]

As far as dying from CV once infected, I read from a Chinese source that most deaths were from those of age and/or those with hypertension. So if one has elevated BP from ADT, there could be increased risk of dying from CV if infected.

[Hidden]

I think the elderly, a category most PC men fall into, are at higher risk on that score alone. ADT with its known cardiovascular complications and tendency toward obesity is an added risk factor. Stay safe and maybe just stay at home.

[dac500 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I am just staying home.

[j-o-h-n]

I think we're all gonna die from this mass hysteria.... To play it safe, stay home with your loaded shotgun....Oieeeeeeeeeeee

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 03/11/2020 11:25 PM DST

[SeosamhM in reply to j-o-h-n]

And this little piece of advice is why we call you DOCTOR John..... Well, just me. And just now. But I'm sticking with the bit anyway...

[j-o-h-n in reply to SeosamhM]

Thank you........... the bill is in mail..........

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 03/12/2020 6:34 PM DST

[SeosamhM in reply to j-o-h-n]

...sigh...isn't it always.....

[j-o-h-n in reply to SeosamhM]

Yep...and of course... "size doesn't matter"..

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 03/12/2020 8:36 PM DST

[Jbooml]

So...I had my bp medicine changed from an Ace1 to 2 inhibitor....one of the signaling receptors for covid19 infection is widely reported to be effected by way of the ACE 2...I did have problems with the former so the provincial medical reviewers agreed to the switch which I am very grateful. I view it as double indemnity.