183 Obstructive Sleep Apnea Increases the Risk of Secondary Polycythemia in Hypogonadal Men Receiving Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Abstract

Polycythemia (erythrocytosis) is a known complication of testosterone (T) replacement therapy (TRT) and has been shown to correlate with T levels. There is also a well-established association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the development of polycythemia. Little is known, however, about the interplay between these conditions and whether TRT and OSA may be synergistic in the development of secondary polycythemia, which has been shown to confer additional long-term morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to retrospectively assess the incidence of OSA in a population of hypogonadal men receiving TRT with or without polycythemia. We performed a retrospective chart review of all men seen by a single subspecialized urologist at our institution between 2010 and 2019 for the diagnosis of hypogonadism (ICD-10 codes E29.1, E23.0, E34.9). Men without complete laboratory workup and whose hormonal treatment was managed primarily by another provider were excluded. Consistent with prior literature, any patient with a Hct of 52% or greater was classified as polycythemic. Basic demographics, lab values, treatment details, and comorbidities were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Data reported as mean ± SD for parametric variables and median [IQR] for nonparametric values as determined by Shapiro Wilk test.