RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cardiopulmonary capacity and muscle strength in transgender women on long-term gender-affirming hormone therapy: a cross-sectional study
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP 1292
OP 1299
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2021-105400
VO 56
IS 22
A1 Alvares, Leonardo Azevedo Mobilia
A1 Santos, Marcelo Rodrigues
A1 Souza, Francis Ribeiro
A1 Santos, Lívia Marcela
A1 Mendonça, Berenice Bilharinho de
A1 Costa, Elaine Maria Frade
A1 Alves, Maria Janieire Nazaré Nunes
A1 Domenice, Sorahia
YR 2022
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/56/22/1292.abstract
AB Objective For transgender women (TW) on oestrogen therapy, the effects of prior exposure to testosterone during puberty on their performance, mainly cardiopulmonary capacity (CPC), while exerting physical effort are unknown. Our objective was to evaluate CPC and muscle strength in TW undergoing long-term gender-affirming hormone therapy.Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out with 15 non-athlete TW (34.2±5.2 years old), 14 cisgender men (CM) and 13 cisgender women (CW). The TW received hormone therapy for 14.4±3.5 years. Bioimpedance, the hand grip test and cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a treadmill with an incremental effort were performed.Results The mean VO2peak (ml/min) was 2606±416.9 in TW, 2167±408.8 in CW and 3358±436.3 in CM (TW vs CW, p<0.05; TW vs CM, p<0.0001; CW vs CM, p<0.0001). The VO2peak/fat-free mass (ml/kg/min) was 47.3±5.1 in TW, 53.3±8.3 in CW, and 52.4±5.8 in CM (TW vs CW p>0.05; TW vs CM p>0.05; CW vs CM p>0.05). The O2 pulse in TW was between that in CW and CM (TW vs CW, p<0.05, TW vs CM, p<0.0001). There was a high correlation between VO2peak and fat-free mass/height2 among TW (r=0.7388; p<0.01), which was not observed in the other groups. The mean strength (kg) was 35.3±5.4 in TW, 29.7±3.6 in CW and 48.4±6.7 in CM (TW vs CW, p<0.05; TW vs CM, p<0.0001); however, adjusted for fat-free mass there was no difference between TW (0.6±0.1) and CW (0.7±0.9; p<0.05).Conclusion Absolute CPC in non-athlete TW showed an intermediate pattern between that in CW and CM; however, relative CPC adjusted for fat-free mass showed no difference between TW and CW or CM. Similarly, the mean strength in non-athlete TW was higher than those in non-athlete CW but not when adjusted for fat-free mass.All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as online supplemental information. Not applicable.