Association between physical activity, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and prostate volume.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) severity and physical activity (PA) across workplace, home, and leisure domains. To determine the mediating role of prostate enlargement on LUTS severity and PA.


METHODS
The study included 405 men without prostate cancer or prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. LUTS severity was ascertained using the American Urological Association Symptom Index and prostate size by ultrasonography. PA was assessed using validated questionnaires, with conversion to metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-h/week to estimate leisure-time PA energy expenditure. Analysis used multivariable linear regression, controlling for body mass index (BMI), age, race, and treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.


RESULTS
Higher leisure-time PA energy expenditure and light housework activities were significantly associated with lower LUTS severity. Prostate volume was not significantly associated with PA in adjusted analyses, and controlling for prostate volume did not affect the association between LUTS severity and PA. Stratification by BMI showed a moderate interaction (P = 0.052), suggesting that PA was more strongly associated with LUTS severity among obese men.


CONCLUSIONS
In this cross-sectional analysis, leisure-time and home-time PA was inversely associated with LUTS severity. The association between PA and LUTS severity was stronger for irritative symptoms and among obese men, and was not mediated through changes in prostate size. Our results indicate the need for further detailed investigation of PA and LUTS.
Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37203-1738, USA. jay.fowke@vanderbilt.edu
Jay H
JH
Fowke
Sharon
S
Phillips
Tatsuki
T
Koyama
Susan
S
Byerly
Raoul
R
Concepcion
Saundra S
SS
Motley
Peter E
PE
Clark
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006796:Household Work; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D009929:Organ Size; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D053448:Prostatism / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017132:Workplace