Metabolic syndrome components worsen lower urinary tract symptoms in women with type 2 diabetes

Diabetic women are more susceptible to develop lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), especially overactive bladder (OAB). However, data regarding the effect of components of metabolic syndrome (MS) on this association are conflicting.

The objective of the study was to examine the potential role of MS in the development of LUTS in diabetic women.

The study was a prevalence study conducted between 2005 and 2007.

The study was conducted in a university hospital.

A total of 518 women with type 2 diabetes aged 50-75 yr were included. They were subgrouped as MS (47.5%) and non-MS (52.5%) groups according to whether they fulfilled the criteria of MS.

We used American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUA-SI) to evaluate LUTS and Indevus Urgency Severity Scale to evaluate OAB, respectively.

Women in the MS group had significantly higher storage and total AUA-SI scores as well as a higher prevalence of LUTS and OAB. Most intriguingly, the number of MS components was strongly associated with the LUTS severity because the AUA-SI scores increased in parallel to the number of components were present. Similar results were found between MS and OAB. Multivariate analysis revealed that peripheral neuropathy, but not MS, significantly predicted LUTS in diabetic women after age adjustment. However, MS remained significantly predictive for LUTS and OAB after additional adjustment for neuropathy.

Our results suggest that MS may especially influence LUTS and OAB in diabetic women, probably by compounding the effect of peripheral neuropathy.