Patients with lower urinary tract symptoms 'at increased metabolic syndrome risk'

Washington, June 20 (ANI): A new study has revealed that patients with severe to mild lower urinary tract (LUT) symptoms are at a greater risk of developing metabolic syndrome, a collection of cardiovascular risk factors.

"These findings have important diagnostic and management implications," said the authors.

"Patients who present with components of metabolic dysfunction should be routinely queried with respect to urological function, particularly voiding symptoms such as intermittency, incomplete emptying and nocturia, as well as the degree of associated bother.

"Sexual dysfunction symptoms, particularly erectile dysfunction, are similarly reported by the majority of men with MetS and should be routinely evaluated," they added.

During the study, the researchers interviewed 2,301 men 30 to 79 years old. They found an increased odds ratio of 1.68 for metabolic syndrome was observed in men with mild to severe LUTS symptoms compared to those with few or no symptoms.

They also found increased odds of the metabolic syndrome even with mild symptoms, primarily for incomplete emptying, intermittency and nocturia.

The study appears in The Journal of Urology. (ANI)