Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate and Mortality in Middle-Aged and Older Men and Women—A J-shaped Relationship
Authors' conclusion
In this large population-based study, DHEAS showed a J-shaped association with mortality. Both participants with lowest and highest levels experienced higher hazards of mortality from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and all causes.
Study context
- Population
- Middle-aged and older men (mean age 55.0) and women (mean age 52.4 years), EPIC-Heidelberg; serum samples collected 1994–1998
- Participants
- 7,370 participants
- Exposure
- Sex- and 5-year age-group specific quintiles of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS)
- Outcome
- Mortality from cancer, CVD and all causes
- Follow-up
- Median 17.7 years
Methodological detailsnested within EPIC-Heidelberg, population-based, Deaths: cancer n = 1040, cardiovascular n = 598, all causes n = 2407 until end of 2014
- Nested within EPIC-Heidelberg
- Population-based
- Deaths: cancer n = 1040, cardiovascular n = 598, all causes n = 2407 until end of 2014
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Mortality by DHEAS quintile (vs Q3)
Each group vs Q3Hazard ratio (95% CI)
Q1cardiovascular mortality
1.83(1.33–2.51)
Q5cardiovascular mortality
1.39(1.00–1.94)
Q1cancer mortality
1.27(1.01–1.60)
Q5cancer mortality
1.27(1.02–1.60)
Q1all-cause mortality
1.51(1.25–1.82)
Q5all-cause mortality
1.31(1.08–1.58)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Doubling of DHEAS, below-median DHEAS levels
- Cardiovascular mortality HR
- 0.87 (0.78-0.96)
- Cancer mortality HR
- 0.90 (0.83-0.97)
- Total mortality HR
- 0.89 (0.83-0.95)
Doubling of DHEAS, above-median DHEAS levels
- Cancer mortality HR
- 1.20 (1.01-1.42)
- Cardiovascular mortality HR
- 1.28 (1.01-1.62)
- All-cause mortality HR
- 1.19 (1.03-1.37)
Original publication
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate and Mortality in Middle-Aged and Older Men and Women—A J-shaped Relationship. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 8 December 2022. doi:10.
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