title: The effect of obesity and components of metabolic syndrome on urinary and sexual functions in Saudi men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish a possible association between obesity, measured by waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI), and voiding and sexual functions in a random cohort of Saudi men.
  
  
  METHODS
  An outpatient men's health clinic was set up at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and men were invited to discuss their sexual and urinary functions. The data collected included age, WC, weight, height, blood pressure, history of diabetes, hypertension, and smoking. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the International Inventory of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire were used to assess urinary tract symptoms and sexual function, respectively. Serum testosterone, prostate-specific antigen and cholesterol levels were measured and documented. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We recruited 113 participants. The mean WC and BMI of the men were 104 ± 14.599 cm and 29.706 kg/m(2), respectively. Thirty-seven men (32.7%) had an IPSS ≥ 8 points. Sexual disorders were reported in 19 men; 16 men had erectile dysfunction, while three had premature ejaculation. Of the whole cohort, 37 men were diabetic, of which 15 (40.5%) had an IPSS ≥ 8 and 13 (35%) were either overweight or obese.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased WC and BMI were associated with diabetes mellitus and large percentages of voiding and sexual disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hisham A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Mosli
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology), King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hala H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Mosli
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Akram A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bokhari
keywords: body mass index; obesity; sexual function; voiding function; waist circumference