title: Associations of carotid artery plaque with lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relationship of carotid artery plaque with international prostate symptom score (IPSS) and international index of erectile function-5 (IIEF).
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 799 men who had participated in a health examination. They received an IPSS, IIEF, a carotid duplex ultrasound, and a full metabolic work-up. Data were analyzed using Spearman's correlation test, the Mantel-Haenszel Extension test, and logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of the study population was 57 years, and the median IPSS and IIEF were 11 and 15, respectively. The IPSS voiding sub-score was significantly correlated with maximum intima-media thickness (max IMT) (P = 0.002). We observed a significant increase in the severity of the voiding sub-score with increasing severity of plaque size (P = 0.003). Additionally, there was an increased likelihood of having a higher IPSS voiding sub-score as severity of plaque size increased after adjusting for age and components of metabolic syndrome. The IIEF showed a significant negative correlation with max IMT (P < 0.001). Additionally, there was a significant increase in the severity of erectile dysfunction (ED) with increased plaque size (P < 0.001). There was a greater likelihood of having moderate ED in the moderate and severe plaque size groups than in the group with an absence of plaque, after adjusting for age and components of metabolic syndrome (odds ratio = 1.672, P = 0.021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that atherosclerosis may play a role in the development of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and ED and indicate a potential role of ED and LUTS in the prediction of carotid artery plaque.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, National Police Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soon Ki
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong-Gi
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex