Dihydrotestosterone is a predictor for mortality in males with community-acquired pneumonia: results of a 6-year follow-up study

Background Adrenal hormone metabolite levels are altered in acute illnesses such as community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Our aim was to investigate associations of sex and mineralocorticoid hormone metabolites with short- and long-term mortality and severity of CAP in male and female patients. Methods We prospectively followed 285 patients (60.4% male, mean age 71 years) with CAP from a previous multicenter trial. At baseline, levels of different metabolites of sex hormones and mineralocorticoids were measured by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. We calculated Cox regression models adjusted for age and comorbidities. Results All-cause mortality was 5.3% after 30 days and increased to 47.4% after 6 years. In males, high levels of dihydrotestosterone were associated with higher 6-year mortality (adjusted HR 2.84, 95%CI 1.15–6.99, p = 0.023 ), whereas high levels of 17-OH-progesterone were associated with lower 6-year mortality (adjusted HR 0.72, 95%CI 0.54–0.97, p = 0.029 ). Testosterone levels in males correlated inversely with inflammatory markers (CRP rho = − 0.39, p < 0.001 ; PCT rho = − 0.34, p < 0.001 ) and disease severity as assessed by the Pneumonia severity index (PSI) (rho = − 0.23, p = 0.003 ). No similar association was found for female patients. Conclusion Whereas in males with CAP, sex and mineralocorticoid hormone metabolite levels correlated with inflammation, disease severity and long-term survival, no similar association was found for females. Further study of sex and mineralocorticoid hormones in acute illness could generate predictive signatures with implementation in clinical practice.