Initiating Testosterone Therapy Without Indication for Treatment of Low Testosterone Is Associated With Higher Risk of Tendon Tear.

Background: Studies have demonstrated an increasing rate of testosterone supplementation in patients who do not meet criteria for testosterone deficiency, but the risks associated with testosterone supplementation are unclear.

Hypothesis: Patients initiating testosterone therapy would be diagnosed with significantly more tendon tears and undergo significantly more tendon repairs than matched controls never on testosterone therapy.

Study design: Cohort study.

Level of evidence: Level 3.

Methods: Male patients who initiated testosterone therapy within 30 days of a primary care visit and who did not meet criteria for treatment of low testosterone were identified (n = 112,242). Propensity score matching generated a control cohort (n = 448,968) with no history of testosterone therapy and based on several comorbidities at the time of said age-matched primary care visit. Rates of tendon tears and tendon repairs within 1 and 2 years after primary care visit were compared using multivariable logistic regression.

Results: Within 1 and 2 years, compared with controls, the testosterone supplementation cohort demonstrated significantly higher rates of rotator cuff tear (odds ratio [OR], 1.35; OR, 1.31), patellar tendon tear (OR, 2.06; OR, 2.14), and any tendon tear (OR, 1.33; OR, 1.31). The testosterone supplementation cohort demonstrated significantly higher rates of quadriceps tendon tears within 1 year (OR, 1.59). Within 1 and 2 years, compared with controls, the testosterone supplementation cohort demonstrated significantly higher rates of rotator cuff repair (OR, 1.28; OR, 1.23), distal biceps tendon repair (OR, 1.65; OR, 1.54), patellar tendon repair (OR, 2.28; OR, 2.18), and any tendon repair (OR, 1.27; OR, 1.23).

Conclusion: Testosterone supplementation is associated with an increased risk of tendon tears and repairs for at least the first and second year after initiating therapy in patients with no documented laboratory testing. Patients considering testosterone therapy should be counseled on this increased risk of tendon injury.