The relationship between varicoceles and obesity in a young adult population.
To determine whether a relationship between obesity and varicocele occurrence exists, the prevalence and severity of varicoceles related to obesity were investigated in a general population of young males. A total of 1050 young males attending the Navy Recruit Training Center were evaluated from their physical screening examinations. All subjects underwent history taking and physical examinations to evaluate for the presence and severity of varicocele. The anthropometric indexes including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were recorded. All subjects were categorized by quartiles according to each anthropometric index. Means were compared with the Student's t-test. Severity was compared by analysis of variance testing and frequency was analysed using the chi-square method. Statistical significance was considered at p <0.05. A total of 490 (46.67%) subjects had varicoceles. The means of BMI, WC and WHR of those without varicoceles was 23.99 +/- 3.82 kg/m(2), 83.20 +/- 9.97 cm and 0.85 +/- 0.05, respectively. These judged values were greater than those with varicoceles (22.02 +/- 3.18 kg/m(2), 79.19 +/- 9.01 cm and 0.83 +/- 0.05) (p < 0.001). In the univariate regression analysis, BMI, WC and WHR all had a significantly negative correlation with severity of varicocele (all p < 0.001). Analysis comparing varicocele frequency based on each grade per anthropometric index group was performed. The logistic regression revealed that the prevalence of grade II and III varicoceles showed a statistically inverse association with all three anthropometric indexes. The prevalence and severity of varicoceles inversely correlated with obesity. The present data support the explanation that obesity may result in a decreased nutcracker effect, which accounts for prevention of the renal vein compression by the adipose tissue.
Tsao
Chih-Wei
CW
Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsu
Chien-Yeh
CY
Chou
Yu-Ching
YC
Wu
Sheng-Tang
ST
Sun
Guang-Huan
GH
Yu
Dah-Shyong
DS
Fan
Pao-Luo
PL
Chen
Hong-I
HI
Chang
Sun-Yran
SY
Cha
Tai-Lung
TL
D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014646:Varicocele / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055105:Waist Circumference; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D055815:Young Adult