Background: Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is common among transgender individuals, but its impact on lipid profile and cardiovascular health is not well studied.
Objectives: The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing literature to assess the impact of GAHT on lipid profiles and metabolic cardiovascular risk factors in transgender individuals.
Methods: Online databases including MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central registry were searched to find studies on lipid profile changes in women who are transgender, also referred to as transfeminine (TF), and men who are transgender, also referred to as transmasculine (TM) before and after GAHT. Baseline comorbidities were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and R-statistical software was used to analyze the mean difference in lipid profile change between the two cohorts (pre- and post-GAHT therapy) including transgender patients.
Results: Overall, 1,241 TM and 992 TF patients were included from 12 observational studies and 12 randomized controlled trials. The mean age among TM and TF was 28 years and 30 years, respectively. The mean follow-up duration (including pre- and post-GAHT therapy) was 28 months in TM patients and 39 months in TF patients. When compared to baseline measures, TM patients had a significant increase in low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride levels, and total cholesterol while high-density lipoprotein levels decreased. In TF patients, there was a significant increase in triglyceride levels.
Conclusions: GAHT affects lipid profiles in transgender patients; however, additional studies are needed to determine how these changes impact clinical outcomes.
Keywords: dyslipidemia; gender-affirming hormonal therapy GAHT; hyperlipidemia; lipid profile; trans feminine TF; trans masculine TM.