INDISCRIMINATE USE OF ANABOLIC STEROIDS AND THEIR REPERCUSSIONS ON CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH IN YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

Cardiovascular health is a fundamental pillar for maintaining metabolic, physical and mental well-being. Although cardiovascular diseases are traditionally associated with aging, there is a progressive increase in their incidence among younger individuals, driven mainly by factors related to lifestyle and the indiscriminate use of exogenous substances, such as anabolic steroids. The use of these hormones is linked to the search for aesthetic standards, with the aim of promoting muscle mass gain and improved physical performance, especially among young athletes. Given this scenario, it becomes essential to understand the impacts of the exogenous use of steroids on the cardiovascular health of these individuals, as well as to recognize their potential to trigger serious and, in some cases, fatal events. Methodologically, a bibliographic review was carried out in the Pubmed and Virtual Health Library (BVS) databases, using the descriptors "young adults", "heart disease", "androgenic", together with the boolean operator AND. To carry out this research, observational studies and full texts published in the last 10 years were used. Duplicate or unavailable texts have been discarded. After the stages of identification, screening, eligibility and analysis of the full texts, 4 studies were included in the final synthesis. The analyzed studies showed that excessive consumption of these substances indiscriminately has been associated with several consequences, including changes in the lipid profile, arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia and early cardiac remodeling. It is concluded, therefore, for a possible structural and functional impairment of the heart and increased cardiovascular risk factors, although the magnitude and reversibility of these effects are not yet fully established. The limited number of studies directly compatible with the population studied reinforces the need for longitudinal research with larger samples and standardized criteria for exposure to androgenic anabolic steroids (EAA).