The association between anogenital distance and benign prostatic hyperplasia related lower urinary tract symptoms in...

We conducted the study to investigate the relationship between anogenital distance (AGD) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) related lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

From May 2018 to January 2020, 220 subjects: 110 men with BPH-related LUTS (BPH-LUTS group) and 110 men without any urination complaints (control group) were selected. Clinical questionnaires, detailed physical examinations, including AGD_as (distance between the anus and posterior base of the scrotum) and AGD_ap (distance between the anus and upper penis) measurements, and blood tests were all assessed.

The two groups were similar in terms of basic features (P > 0.05). The AGD_ap and AGD_as in the control group were significantly shorter than the BPH-LUTS group (P < 0.001). Adjusted multivariate analyses showed that AGD_as was significantly related to International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), post-voiding residual volume (PVR), total prostate volume (TPV) and maximum urine flow rate (Q_max) (P = 0.002, P = 0.009, P = 0.001, P = 0.028, respectively). However, the associations between AGD_ap and IPSS score, PVR, TPV, Q_max and total testosterone (TT) were all negligible (P > 0.05 for all). The associations between TT and BPH-LUTS related evaluations were also negligible (P > 0.05 for all). Furthermore, the study revealed that the AGD_as cut-off values for mild, moderate, and severe symptom (based on IPSS score) in BPH-LUTS cases were 27.4 mm and 46.8 mm [area under curve (AUC): 0.802 and AUC: 0.779, respectively], respectively.

Longer AGD_as was related to more severe BPH related symptoms. It may be useful to consider AGD as a marker for BPH-LUTS. Further well-designed studies are remained to be done to explore the intriguing problem.