Alcohol consumption shows a J-shaped association with lower urinary tract symptoms in the general screening...

Controversial and contradictory data on the association between alcohol consumption and lower urinary tract symptoms are currently available in the literature. In this study we determined the association between alcohol consumption and lower urinary tract symptoms, including voiding and storage symptoms, in a large general screening population.

This cross-sectional study included 30,196 men 30 years old or older participating in a comprehensive health evaluation at the Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center. Men with a history of prostate related medical problems such as prostate cancer, prostate surgery or prostatitis were excluded from study. Using the International Prostate Symptom Score, lower urinary tract symptoms were defined as a score of 8 or greater, indicating moderate to severe symptoms. We used logistic regression analysis to determine the association between alcohol consumption and lower urinary tract symptoms.

After adjustment for eligible covariates, graphing of the association between alcohol consumption and the risk of moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms showed a J-shaped curve. Compared with nondrinkers, the odds ratios of moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms were 0.91 (95% CI 0.84-0.98) in men who drank 0 to 10 gm daily and 1.19 (95% CI 1.07-1.33) in those who drank 40 or more gm daily. This is a cross-sectional study with data from self-reported alcohol consumption and, therefore, the reported amounts of alcohol consumption might be underestimated.

To the best of our knowledge this is the largest population based study to evaluate the relationship between alcohol consumption and moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms, including voiding and storage symptoms. In men alcohol consumption shows a J-shaped curve relationship with the risk of moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms.