Association between metabolic syndrome and lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia in male patients

Maria Lourdes MATEOS SANCHEZ, Evelin TRASTOY JIMENEZ, Ana María CHUCHON ALVA, Estefania Dolores GONZALEZ MARTIN and Eva Maria SANTIAGO SANCHEZ

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a primary cause of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS), adversely affecting the quality of life in elderly men. While patients with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) frequently present with LUTS, evidence regarding the association between MetS and LUTS remains unclear.To analyze the association of MetS with the severity of LUTS and Quality of Life (QoL) in male patients with chronic diseases.This prospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted at the Primary Care Unit of Sawanpracharak Hospital in 2025. The study population consisted of males aged 50 years and older who attended the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) clinic with complete metabolic profiles. LUTS data were collected using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). The association between MetS and LUTS was analyzed using multivariable ordinal logistic regression.A total of 91 male patients were included: 58 with MetS and 32 without. In the MetS group, 34.5% exhibited moderate and 5.2% severe symptoms. No significant association was found between MetS and LUTS severity (Adjusted OR = 1.28; 95% CI: 0.34 – 4.84) or urinary-related QoL (Adjusted OR = 1.47; 95% CI: 0.46 – 4.69). However, within the MetS group, patients with moderate symptoms showed a significant association with dissatisfaction in QoL (Adjusted OR = 6.44; 95% CI: 1.35 – 30.68; p = 0.019).Although MetS is not directly associated with LUTS severity, its presence significantly impacts QoL in patients with moderate symptoms, suggesting that patients with metabolic comorbidities may possess a lower tolerance for urinary tract abnormalities compared to the general population.Metabolic Syndrome is not associated with LUTS severity but significantly impacts QoL in patients presenting with moderate symptoms or higher. Consequently, NCD care in primary care settings should incorporate LUTS assessment to ensure holistic management and improved quality of life for patients. Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Current Positions	Director (W3 Professor) & Head Physician Department of General Practice and Primary careUniversity Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
Education
1993-1999	Study of human medicine (MD), Marburg, Wien, Paris
Qualifications
2000 2004 2008	Dissertation in human medicine (Dr. med.) Certified primary care physician (Facharzt für Allgemeinmedizin) Habilitation in General Practice and Primary Care (Priv.-Doz.)
Professional Positions
2004-2009 200920102006-2018 2010-2018 Since 2011 2015-2020 2019-2025	Senior physician, Institute of General Practice and Primary Care, Göttingen, Germany W-2 endowed professorship for Health Services Research and its Methods, Institute of Social Medicine, University of Lübeck Head of the Institute of Social Medicine, University of Lübeck Guideline coordinator of the German College of General Practitioners (DEGAM) Vice president of the German College of General Practitioners (DEGAM) W-3 endowed professorship Department of General Practice and Primary care Chief-editor Hamburger Ärzteblatt President German of the College of General Practitioners (DEGAM)
Research Interests
Since 1996	development and implementation of guidelines and quality indicators; health services and clinical research in an ambulatory setting; chronic diseases and multimorbidity
Selected Awards
2009	Dr. Lothar-Beyer-Preis German College of General Practitioners (DEGAM)
Third Party Funding
Received grants from the following Funding Bodies	German Research Foundation (DFG), German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Hamburg (KVH), Institute for Quality and Efficiency of Health Care(IQWIG), German College of General Practitioners (DEGAM)