Risk Factors for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in a Population-based Sample of African-American Men

Abstract

Previous epidemiologic studies evaluating risk factors for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) have focused on White populations. Between September 1996 and January 1998, in a population-based sample of African-American men aged 40-79 years in Flint, Michigan, the authors assessed the role of putative sociodemographic, lifestyle, and medical history risk factors in moderate to severe LUTS, including the subcategories of obstructive and irritative symptoms. After the exclusion of men with prostate cancer or prior prostate surgery and men who were taking alpha-blockers for urinary tract symptoms, 708 participants provided responses to a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. After multivariable adjustment, current and former smokers were at increased risk of moderate to severe LUTS, including obstructive symptoms. Heavy alcohol consumption and a history of hypertension or diabetes were positively associated with LUTS, and high income (>/=$30,000) was inversely associated with LUTS and with obstructive and irritative symptoms. A history of heart disease was positively associated with LUTS and with irritative symptoms. To the authors' knowledge, this was the first population-based study undertaken in African-American men to evaluate putative risk factors for moderate to severe LUTS, including subcategories of obstructive and irritative urinary symptoms. These results describe associations with specific lifestyle and medical history risk factors.

The impact of abdominal aortic calcification and visceral fat obesity on lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

“…Significant relation between BMI (overweight men) and male LUTS was reported in some studies 17,18 , but not in other studies [19][20][21] . The study design and the study population differed among these reports.…”

Body mass index and risk of BPH: a meta-analysis

“…Upon closer examination, 15 studies were excluded for the following reasons: 4 studies [12][13][14][15] were not case-control or cohort studies, 9 studies did not provide sufficient information to estimate a summary OR and its 95% CI [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] or a summary OR adjusted for age. 24 One study 25 evaluated OR and its 95% CI with weight and height, respectively, but no BMI. One study 26 researched the relationship between BPH and BMI in the form of annual growth rates.…”

History of weight and obesity through life and risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia

“…29 Some studies reported that a reduction occurs in the hyperplastic prostate mass, primarily of the epithelium, and Weight and benign prostatic hyperplasia A Zucchetto et al with androgen deprivation. [30][31][32][33] A role of androgens in risk of BPH is also supported by the absence of BPH in men castrated before puberty, 34 and by the absent or small prostate in men deficient in 5a-reductase type 2. 35,36 Pharmacological inhibition of dihydrotestosterone, a testosterone metabolite present in the prostate, is associated with a reduction in prostate size, urinary symptoms and surgery for BPH.…”