Endocrine Abstracts

JOINT531

Background: The role of testicular function may extend beyond reproduction, potentially serving as a biomarker of general health. In fact, poor semen quality has been linked with increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality.

Objective: To investigate testicular function and its associations with cardiometabolic health from a longitudinal perspective by utilizing baseline data from a well-characterized cohort of Danish young men from the general population, coupled with register-based follow-up.

Material and methods: This register-based follow-up study includes 5,265 men from the Danish Young Men Study (DYMS), a cohort established to investigate reproductive function in young adulthood. At baseline, participants completed a questionnaire, provided a blood sample for the assessment of reproductive hormones and health markers, delivered a semen sample, and underwent physical examinations. After a median follow-up of 12.1 years (5th–95th percentile: 2.1–20.8), the men had a median age of 32.4 years (5th–95th percentile: 22.4–40.9). Baseline data were linked to the nationwide Prescription Register and National Patient Register to obtain information on cardiometabolic prescriptions and diagnosed diseases. Men were divided into quartiles based on semen quality parameters. The associations between semen quality in early adulthood and later cardiometabolic disease were analyzed using Cox regression analyses, with follow-up from baseline until the first cardiometabolic prescription or diagnosis, or censoring. Results are expressed as hazard ratios (HR).

Results: After adjustment for period of ejaculation abstinence, smoking and BMI, we observed that the lower the quartile of baseline total sperm count, the higher the risk of cardiometabolic conditions (Q4: reference, Q3: HR=0.97, Q2: HR=1.06, Q1: HR=1.16; P-trend=0.21). A similar dose-dependent pattern was observed for total progressive motile sperm count (Q4: reference, Q3: HR=1.06, Q2: HR=1.14, Q1: HR=1.21; P-trend=0.14). BMI modified the association, which was less pronounced in men with normal BMI but more pronounced and statistically significant in men with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²(n=898) (total sperm count: Q4: reference, Q3: HR=0.93, Q2: HR=1.34, Q1: HR=1.59, P-trend=0.01, and total progressive motile count: Q4: reference, Q3: HR=0.72, Q2: HR=1.20, Q1: HR=1.47, P-trend=0.01, respectively).

Conclusion: Semen parameters in youth were significantly associated with risk of cardiometabolic health in men with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². Thus, semen quality could serve as an additional biomarker for future cardiometabolic health, enabling earlier intervention and prevention. Men seeking help for infertility may be a relevant target group for such preventive initiatives.