Metabolic diseases and sex hormone levels affect differently in the development of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in elderly males

Objective: This single-centre cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the metabolic and gonadal risk factors of vascular diseases in elderly males. Methods: After screening, 337 subjects aged 60-90 were found to be qualified. Odds ratios (ORs) in cross-table analyses and exp(B) in logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the vascular risk of dependent factors. R-2 of logistic regression equation was used to estimate the goodness-of-fit of vascular diseases logistic regression models. Results: Hypertension increased the risk of cardiovascular disease (CAVD) in elderly men approximately 3-fold. The number of metabolic diseases also correlated with incremental risks of CAVD; presence of one abnormality approximately increases the risk approximately 62%. Cerebrovascular disease (CEVD) development was closely associated with both metabolic syndrome and sex hormone levels; their explanation effects of single action and combined action were 13.2%, 12.55% and 28.5%. C-peptide might be the underlying mechanism of the metabolic syndrome's effect on CEVD. C-peptide = 2.43 U/L and FE2 = 0.66 were the tangent points in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Conclusions: Metabolic diseases and sex hormones play different roles in the development of CAVD and CEVD, the methods for vascular protection in elderly men should be promoted differently according to the their risks of CAVD and CEVD.