Physical activity, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and lower urinary tract symptoms

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Preventive Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Conflicting evidence exists regarding the protective role of physical activity against benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
• Understanding the association between lifestyle factors and BPH/LUTS is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate the association between physical activity levels and the risk of developing BPH and LUTS.
• To synthesize existing observational data through meta-analysis to provide a quantitative estimate of this relationship.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using major biomedical databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE) and conference abstracts.
• Observational studies with empirical data on physical activity, BPH, and LUTS were selected and analyzed using random effects models.

Main Results:

• Eleven studies involving 43,083 men were included. Eight studies reported an inverse association between physical activity and BPH/LUTS.
• Pooled analysis of eight studies (35,675 men) showed that moderate and vigorous physical activity were significantly associated with reduced odds of BPH/LUTS (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.60-0.92 for both).
• Light physical activity showed a non-significant trend towards reduced risk (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.44-1.13).

Conclusions:

• Physical activity demonstrates a protective effect against benign prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms.
• The findings align with research linking BPH/LUTS to cardiovascular disease risk factors, suggesting that increased physical activity may be a viable preventive strategy.
• Promoting physical activity could help prevent or mitigate the severity of BPH and LUTS.