Cardiopulmonary capacity and muscle strength in transgender women on long-term gender-affirming hormone therapy: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

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 TW (34.2±5.2 years old), 13 cisgender men (CM) and 14 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 (L/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 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).

Conclusion: CPC in non-athlete TW showed an intermediate pattern between that in CW and CM. The mean strength and VO2 peak in non-athlete TW while performing physical exertion were higher than those in non-athlete CW and lower than those in CM.

Keywords: Body composition; Cardiology; Exercise Test; Women.