title: Waist circumference and risk of lower urinary tract symptoms: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidemiological studies have reported conflicting results concerning the role of central obesity in lower urinary tract symptoms. We performed a meta-analysis to determine whether larger waist circumference (WC) is a predicted signal for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUT). Data resource: Eligible studies were retrieved by searching PubMed, Web of science, and the Cochrane Library database up to January 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective and retrospective cohort, case-controlled trials and observational studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were extracted and analyzed using random effect models to reveal an array of risk factors. Dose-response meta-analysis was performed for studies reporting categorical risk estimates at multiple exposure levels. Study heterogeneity and publication biases were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria of the meta-analysis. A positive association with waist circumference (WC) was observed between WC and LUTS at an odds ratio of 1.49, (95% confidence intervals 1.34-1.64). In subgroup analysis, WC exhibited a positive dose-dependent relationship with LUTS in mostly study design, region and primary outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Potential biases from preferential publication and selective reporting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Large WC is associated with increased risk of LUTS. Further studies are needed to confirm this finding and to define related biological mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Key laboratory of disease of Urological systems, Gansu Nepho-Urological Clinical Center, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University , Lanzhou, Gansu , China .
authors.forename: Qiqi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Hanzhang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhongjin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Junqiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Guiming
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Firouz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Daneshgari
authors.forename: Zhiping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference
keywords: LUTS; obesity; waist circumference