Association between testosterone levels and cardiometabolic disorders in workers engaged in underground coal mining

Introduction. The worsening situation with increasing mortality from cardiovascular diseases among the able-bodied population requires the development of new concepts for diagnosis, treatment, and, above all, algorithms for preventive measures. Workers engaged in underground coal mining are exposed to a complex of harmful production factors that provoke the development and progression of metabolic disorders, which allows them to be classified as a group of increased cardiac risk. The search for markers of early cardiometabolic disorders is necessary for a comprehensive approach to assessing the cardiovascular risk in these workers. The inclusion of new informative indicators in the screening program for the most vulnerable population will increase the effectiveness of preventive measures and reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular pathology.

The study aims to analyze the relationship between the level of total testosterone and indicators of cardiometabolic disorders in workers engaged in underground coal mining.

Materials and methods. The scientists have conducted an in-depth survey of 76 workers engaged in underground coal mining, aged 37 to 49 years. The authors have evaluated the parameters of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, markers of inflammation, and the level of total testosterone. Comparison groups were formed depending on the level of testosterone.

Results. Workers engaged in underground coal mining with testosterone levels within the lower quartile range showed significant (p<0.05) changes in the state of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and higher levels of highly sensitive C-reactive protein compared with those with testosterone levels within the upper quartile range. Using ROC analysis, a threshold level of total testosterone was established, below which an increased risk of cardiometabolic disorders at the age of 37–49 years is predicted — 11.22 nmol/l.

Limitations. The study is limited to a sample of surveyed workers engaged in underground coal mining in the age range of 37–49 years.

Conclusion. The obtained results indicate a relationship between a decrease in total testosterone levels and the development of disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, activation of inflammatory processes, which indicates the importance of including testosterone in a set of indicators to assess the risk of cardiometabolic disorders in workers engaged in underground coal mining.

Ethics. The study was conducted in compliance with ethical standards for conducting medical research involving humans in accordance with the requirements of the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association. The study was approved by the conclusion of the local Ethics Committee of the Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health (minutes of the meeting No. 5 dated 08/02/2023).

Contributions:
Kuzmina L.P. — research design, text editing;
Kislyakova A.A. — conducting research, statistical data processing, writing and editing text;
Kolyaskina M.M. — conducting research, statistical data processing, writing and editing text;
Khotuleva A.G. — conducting research, statistical data processing, writing and editing text;
Anokhin N.N.— writing and editing text.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 04.07.2025 / Accepted: 21.07.2025 / Published: 05.09.2025

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