Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), commonly used by athletes to enhance muscle mass and physical performance, have become an increasing concern in the medical community due to their potential negative effects.
اضافة اعلان
Although anabolic steroids have previously been linked to higher mortality rates, the long-term impact of these steroids—synthetic derivatives of testosterone—on heart health remains unclear.
In a new study, Danish researchers analyzed data from 1,189 men who were penalized for using anabolic steroids at Danish fitness centers between 2006 and 2018. They compared them with 59,450 men from the general Danish population, with both samples adjusted for age and gender.
The study focused on measuring the incidence of several heart-related issues, such as acute myocardial infarction, venous thromboembolism, ischemic stroke, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and cardiac arrest.
The results showed that steroid users face a three-fold increased risk of acute myocardial infarction compared to the general population (HR 3.00, "hazard ratio"). The likelihood of undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (a non-surgical procedure using a catheter to open blocked coronary arteries) or coronary artery bypass surgery (a surgery to bypass blockages by grafting new blood vessels) increased by 2.95 times.
This group also had a 2.42-fold higher risk of venous thromboembolism, while the likelihood of experiencing arrhythmias doubled (HR 2.26). The rate of heart failure increased by 3.6 times (HR 3.63), while cardiomyopathy showed the highest increase, with the risk being nearly 9 times higher compared to the general population (HR 8.90).
Although the study did not specify whether users continued steroid use after penalties were imposed, nor did it address the dosages or types of steroids used, the researchers concluded that the use of anabolic steroids is clearly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, with these risks persisting long after use has ended.
Source: Medical Express
