Could Metabolic Syndrome Increase the Risk of Urinary Tract Symptoms?

Patients with metabolic syndrome have an increased risk of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)¹, but bariatric surgery could lower the risk of those symptoms², according to 2 recent studies.

In the first study, researchers evaluated 4666 men between the ages of 55 and 100 years who consulted a general practitioner during a 12-day period in December of 2009.
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“We studied the correlation between metabolic syndrome and its individual components, and the severity of LUTS. Analyses were adjusted for body mass index, age, and prostate-specific antigen level,” the authors wrote.

They defined LUTS based on the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and metabolic syndrome was defined by the standards of the National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel III.

The study showed a significant association between treated LUTS and metabolic syndrome.

In the other study, researchers monitored 72 patients who underwent bariatric surgery to determine the impact on LUTS symptoms in obese participants. Researchers evaluated the participants before surgery, at 6 to 8 weeks, and 1 year after the surgery.

At 6 weeks, researchers found a major reduction in overall LUTS score (P<0.001), which the participants maintained at the 1-year follow-up.

According to researchers, preoperative insulin level, total symptoms score, and insulin level changes post operation cold predict the patient’s change of total symptoms score, while weight loss could not predict the degree of weight loss or the course of time.

The complete studies are published in the December issue of BJU International.

-Michelle Canales

References:

1. Pashootan P, Ploussard G, Cocaui A, et al. Association between metabolic syndrome and severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS): an observational study in a 4666 European men cohort. BJUI. 2014 December [epub ahead of print] doi: 10.1111/bju.12931.

2. Luke S, Addison B, Broughton K, et al. Effects of bariatric surgery on untreated lower urinary tract symptoms: a prospective multicenter cohort study. BJUI. 2014 December [epub ahead of print] doi: 10.1111/bju.12943.