The association between vascular risk factors and lower urinary tract symptoms in both sexes.
OBJECTIVE
To test the potential role of atherosclerosis in the development of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), we investigated the association between vascular risk factors and LUTS in both sexes.


METHODS
Men and women participating in a health screening project completed the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). In parallel all individuals underwent a detailed health investigation with assessment of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and nicotine use.


RESULTS
A total of 1724 men (52.3+/-9.1yr, mean+/-standard deviation; IPSS: 6.3+/-4.3) and 812 women (56.0+/-9.9 yr; IPSS: 5.2+/-4.9) entered the study. A total of 62.5% (n=1077) of men had no vascular risk factor, 32.1% (n=554) one, and 5.4% (n=93) two or more; the corresponding figures for women were 64.7% (n=525), 30.7% (n=249), and 4.7% (n=38). In men, the IPSS was identical in those with no (6.2+/-4.1) and one (6.2+/-4.4) vascular risk factor yet increased to 7.7+/-5.5 (+24.2%) in those with two or more risk factors (p=0.01). In women, the IPSS increased from 4.8+/-4.6 in those with no vascular risk factor to 5.7+/-5.3 (+18.7%) with one and 7.0+/-5.7 (+45.8%) with two or more factors (p=0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that vascular risk factors play a role in the development of LUTS in both sexes. This observation opens new aspects in our understanding of the pathogenesis of LUTS and warrants future studies.
Ponholzer
Anton
A
Department of Urology and Andrology, Donauspital, Vienna, Austria.
Temml
Christian
C
Wehrberger
Clemens
C
Marszalek
Martin
M
Madersbacher
Stephan
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*