Increased body mass index (BMI) and other components of metabolic syndrome have been linked to a number of urologic disorders, including erectile and voiding dysfunction.
Researchers from New York and Illinois suggest that measurement of waist circumference may be a useful predictor for the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and prostate volume.
Baseline parameters ? International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), prostate volume (measured by ultrasound), serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), flow rate and erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction ? were gathered, along with data on the incidence of hypertension, coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus were compared among the 88 men in the study. Men were divided into three groups based on waist circumference (30-36 inches, 36-40 inches and greater than 40 inches).
Significant positive relationships between waist circumference and prostate volume, PSA, IPSS, erectile dysfunction and ejaculatory dysfunction were observed. Flow rates were inversely related. Higher waist circumference was also associated with an increase in diabetes mellitus, hypertension and coronary artery disease. These data suggest that increased waist circumference is associated with voiding and sexual dysfunction, and increase in metabolic syndrome disorders.