The Testosterone Project, a Raleigh, N.C.-based nonprofit, released a policy brief Aug. 11 estimating that undiagnosed testosterone deficiency in U.S. men ages 45 to 74 could be linked to $190 billion to $525 billion in direct healthcare spending over 20 years.
The report, “The Hidden Cost of Missed Testosterone Deficiency,” attributes roughly $8.4 billion in costs to the first year alone. Men newly diagnosed with hypogonadism incurred about $2,821 more in annual direct medical spending than matched controls, and privately insured employees with the condition carried roughly $4,869 more per year in combined direct and workforce costs.
The brief also cites the T4DM trial, which found testosterone therapy plus lifestyle intervention cut a two-year diabetes endpoint from 21% to 12% among high-risk men. The TRAVERSE trial, involving 5,246 men, found testosterone therapy noninferior on major adverse cardiovascular events, addressing a safety concern that had limited treatment conversations for over a decade.
“Testosterone deficiency hides beneath conditions that already dominate men’s healthcare spending: diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, unexplained anemia, fatigue, and depressed mood,” said Mohit Khera, MD, professor of urology at Baylor College of Medicine and a spokesperson for the nonprofit. “The men with the strongest case for evaluation are often the ones who never get tested.”
The brief calls for targeted case-finding among symptomatic men rather than universal screening, and advocates descheduling testosterone from Schedule III, approving testosterone formulations for women, and formally recognizing testosterone deficiency as a medical condition.
Read the full report here.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
