Association between Metabolic Syndrome and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Evidences from Epidemiological Studies

Metabolic syndrome (MS) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are both highly prevalent problems of public health in the modern era. MS has been demonstrated to increase the risks for developing cardiovascular, kidney and liver diseases, and recent epidemiological evidences have indicated a possible link between MS and urological diseases, such as erectile dysfunction (ED) in men and LUTS in both sexes. The relationship between MS and LUTS was first described by Hammarsten et al. and concluded that men with MS risk factors had a larger prostate volume and a faster growth rate. Several consequent studies have also supported the association between MS and LUTS suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men. However, studies have reported that the female lower urinary tract was affected by the components of MS as well. However, two recent surveys did not find a significant association between MS and LUTS. To date, this association remains unclear, and future longitudinal studies are needed to further clarify the controversy.